Operation Snowgoose
Operation Snowgoose is the Canadian involvement in the UN peacekeeping mission in Cyprus (UNFICYP). This operation was established in 1964 alongside the UN peacekeeping mission in Cyprus with the goal of reducing tensions between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot populations on the island. Canada's participation with UNFICYP was named "Snowgoose" in 1974, and has one of the longest durations of any Canadian peacekeeping operation. Over 33,000 Canadians have served since the beginning of this mission, but currently only one Canadian participates in the operation per year. Background The island of Cyprus has been occupied by various invading groups over the centuries, and as a result, contains a mix of different cultures. The population is largely Greek, but with a sizeable Turkish minority. The presence of this Turkish population is due to the historical influence of the Ottoman Empire, which the island was a part of for nearly 340 years until 1919. History The Cyprus dispute originated from tensions between the two separate cultural groups inhabiting the island. What some historians refer to as the “Cyprus problem” has been a source of conflict for several decades. Since 1955, repeated clashes between the island’s Greek and Turkish communities have created political