| Cyprus is irrefutably a geographical part of Asia. It is 75km from Anatolia (Asian Turkey) and 105km from Syria. It is 800km from the nearest part of mainland Europe, but only as the crow flies (and it would have to fly over mainland Asia to get there). It is slightly closer to mainland Africa than Europe. Cyprus has cultural and historic ties to Europe, but so do the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Latin America and lots of other far flung places. The fact that it is in the EU is irrelevant there are lots of territories that are part of the EU that are not in Europe - Ceuta, Melilla and Madeira (all in Africa), French Guiana, Guadaloupe, Martinique, Aruba and Netherlands Antilles (in the Americas) are examples. Membership of UEFA is also irrelevant. Israel is a member if UEFA and is clearly in Asia. Australia has just moved from the Oceanian to the Asia confederation, but has not altered its geographic location.
Armenia is very slightly more contentious as there is some disagreement as to where the boundary between Europe and Asia should be drawn in area of the Caucasus. (It is much more obvious in the Mediterranean). However, nearly all sources consider the watershed of the Greater Caucasus mountains the be the border in this region thus placing Armenia in Asia. the comments above relating to Historic and cultural ties and membership of the EU and UEFA apply equally to Armenia. |
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