The Republic of Cyprus was established in 1960. At the time the UK, as the formal imperial power, retained two Sovereign Base Areas that are officially UK territory - equivalent to 3% of the territory of Cyprus. In 1964 the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) was established to i) stop the violence between the Greek and Turkish Cypriots途 ii) contribute to the maintenance and restoration of law and order途 iii) facilitate a return to normal conditions. In 1974 the northern part of the island was invaded and occupied by the Republic of Turkey to respond to a coup by the Cypriot National Guard aimed at annexing Cyprus to Greece. The Republic of Cyprus is the only internationally recognized state, whereas the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) is recognized only by the Republic of Turkey. In 2004 the Republic of Cyprus became an EU member country. The aim of the lecture is to present the role of external actors in the maintenance/possible solution of the Cyprus issue.