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 Cyprus Size: 9,250 square kilometers. Population: 754,064 |
Cyprus is hoping to finally decide the fate of its divided island. The
Republic of Cyprus, with a government dominated by Greek Cypriots, plans
to enter the European Union and the organization could decide the issue on
Dec. 22, 2001. Turkey, with 35,000 troops in the breakaway Turkish Republic
of Northern Cyprus, has opposed EU membership and has threatened to annex
the northern part of the island. The Republic of Cyprus has turned to its
Greek ally for help and wants additional military aid to increase Nicosia's
deterrence. But the U.S.-led war in Afghanistan has prevented Greece from
flexing its muscles. Greece agreed to a U.S. request in November to keep its
combat aircraft away from the island in an effort to keep a lid on regional
tensions and free air corridors in the eastern Mediterranean.
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