Cyprus Flag - Republic of

The flag of Cyprus was adopted on August 16, 1960 as part of the Zurich and London agreements, proclaiming Cyprus an independent state complete with its own constitution. It features a map of the entire island, with two olive branches below, serving as a double symbol of peace against the that of a white mast.. The Cyprusian island is shown in copper recognising the island's rich copper ore reserves. It is the only country to show its boundaries on its flag.

The flag was selected by President Makarios III with consent of his Vice-President Fazil Kuçuk in 1960. The flag had been proposed by a Turkish Cypriot school teacher, Ismet Guney and needed to be presented to both the country's Greek President and Turkish Vice-President for agreement and adoption. The flag passed both.

The Cyprusian constitution prevents the colour blue as represented in the Hellenic flag and the colour red as found in the Turkish flag from being included on Cyprus' flag. It also bans the use of a cross (Christianity) or crescent (Moslem) from appearing. When a design competition was initiated, all participants intentionally avoided the symbols of Greece and Turkey's tumoultous past and attempted to design a neutral Cyprusian flag. Before it's introduction, nationalists of either heritage would fly their respective Turkish or Greek flag. The national flag has been embraced by Greek Cypriots but to a lesser degree by those of Turkish ethnicity.