[1] The design of the flag deliberately employs peaceful and neutral symbols in an attempt to indicate harmony between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities, an ideal that has not yet been realised.

The map on the flag is a copper-orange colour, symbolising the large deposits of copper ore on the island, from which it may have received its name.

The original proposal, made by the former British colonial administration, featured a rust-brown K on a white field.

It was rejected by the President Makarios III and Vice-president Fazil Küçük, who preferred a flag proposed by İsmet Güney, a Turkish Cypriot artist.

The government announced in October 2005, that it would take steps to "start from scratch" and assure that only flags complying with the official specifications would be produced.