Cyprus; In July 1974 the Turkish army occupied 40;000 soldiers in the northern part of Cyprus. This was preceded by years of political turmoil between Greek and Turkish Cypriots; most of whom lived together.The 1974 invasion made them refugees in their own country. The Turkish Cypriots moved north from the southern part of the island and; conversely; the Greek Cypriots fled from the north to the south.On November 15; 1983; the Turkish Cypriot leader Denktas proclaimed the independent state "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus"; which was recognized by no other state apart from the Turkish government..Shepherd with his goats in the interior of the Turkish-occupied part of the island.Northern Cyprus; 1984/1985.