CYPRUS PROBLEM

Background Information on Cyprus Problem

The Eastern Mediterranean island of Cyprus is the homeland of two distinct peoples: the Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots. Their relationship is not one of a majority and minority, but one of equal partnership.

The Turkish Cypriots speak Turkish, are Muslims and share the culture of their motherland, Turkey. The Greek Cypriots, on the other hand, speak Greek, are Orthodox Christians and profess the culture of their motherland Greece.

After more than 300 years of Turkish rule, the island came under British influence in 1878, but sovereignty was formally transferred by Turkey to Britain in 1925. British colonial administration continued until 1960 when as a joint bi-communal state, the Republic of Cyprus was founded under international treaties, signed by Great Britain, Greece and Turkey, and by the leaders of both the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities in their separate capacities. The 1960 arrangements created a political partnership between the two national communities, which would enable them to share power and co-operate in a bi-communal state, with the necessary checks and balances and guarantees. Unfortunately, this political partnership and the internationally sanctioned regime lasted only three years.

The Greek Cypriots continued unlawfully to campaign against a bi-communal independent state and on 21 December 1963 put into effect their plan for a general onslaught on the Turkish Cypriot community. The aim was to abrogate the constitution of the country through the use of force and bring about ENOSIS (Annexation of Cyprus to Greece). Turkish Cypriot members of the joint Parliament and the joint Government were expelled from their offices, the entire state machinery being unilaterally usurped by the Greek Cypriots. The brutality of Greek attacks was such that the Turkish Cypriot people in 103 villages had to escape for their lives into the security of small enclaves scattered all over Cyprus.

An extensive refugee problem was created as a result of Greek Cypriot attacks on Turkish Cypriots throughout the island. The Turkish Cypriots became virtual prisoners and hostages in their own land. The United Nations Secretary-General described this situation as a veritable siege. From 1964 until 1974, Turkish Cypriot people lived under difficult conditions in isolated enclaves, but they lived under their own rule.

On 15 July 1974 Greece staged a coup in Cyprus with the aim of achieving ENOSIS. Turkey, one of the three guarantor states, called on Britain as the other guarantor for joint intervention under Article 4 of the Treaty of Guarantee. When Britain refrained, Turkey was compelled to intervene on her own, again in full accordance with the provisions of the said Treaty. Since then, peace and tranquillity have prevailed on the island. This article recalls the events in chronological order.

History of Violence 1955

The Greek Cypriot underground terrorist organisation (EOKA) started a violent campaign for ENOSIS. The terror campaign was accompanied by the demand for a unilateral application of the right of self-determination. Britain refused, saying both communities were entitled to the right of self-determination. During its 5 years of terror campaign EOKA murdered hundreds of British soldiers, civilians and Turkish Cypriots.

Compromise Agreement 1960

A bi-communal government with shared sovereignty by Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot communities was created by treaty. Guarantors of the state of affairs thus created were Great Britain, Turkey and Greece.

The 1960 agreements were embodied in a unique Constitution which was based on the equal political partnership between the Greek and Turkish Cypriots, and which prohibited annexation or union of Cyprus to any other country or entity.

Constitution Violated and Destroyed 1963

It became clear very soon after independence that the Greek Cypriots did not intend to abide by the Constitution. They ignored, among other things, the constitutional requirement for separate municipalities and the Supreme Constitutional Court of Cyprus when it ruled against them in April 1963. In December 1963, the Greek Cypriots, under the leadership of Archbishop Makarios, supporting ENOSIS, destroyed the bi-communal character of the Republic, in effect hijacking the State machinery.

The exclusively Greek Cypriot administration now operating in Southern Cyprus resulted from this illegal seizure of power through the abrogation of the 1960 Constitution. Turkish Cypriots suffered great human and material losses in the bloody clashes initiated by Greek Cypriots and were completely ejected, by force of arms, from all the organs of the State, denied all political and human rights and squeezed into 3 % of the island's territory. The United Nations reports extensively document the grave conditions faced by the Turkish Cypriot and the inhuman restrictions imposed on an entire people.

The British House of Commons Select Committee on Foreign Affairs reported unanimously on July 2, 1987, "Although the Cyprus Government now claims to have been merely seeking to operate the 1960 Constitution modified to the extent dictated by the necessities of the situation, this claim ignores the fact that both before and after events of December 1963 the Makarios Government continued to advocate the cause of ENOSIS and actively pursued the amendment of the Constitution and the related treaties to facilitate this ultimate objective".

In fact Archbishop Makarios had declared that the Constitution was dead and buried. That Constitution has been inoperative since and is no longer relevant.

Division of the Island 1964

Turkish Cypriot families, forced to flee from their homes, withdrew into enclaves for mutual protection. This unprovoked Greek Cypriot use of force brought about the division of the island symbolised by the "Green line" in Nicosia. A joint political authority that could speak on behalf of both communities ceased to exist. But the Greek Cypriots, having overthrown by force the Joint State and government, continued unlawfully to usurp the titles of the bi-communal State.

United Nations Intervention 1964

The U.N. tried to mediate, but Greek Cypriots would not allow Turkish Cypriots back into their legitimate positions in the Republic unless they abandoned fundamental constitutional safeguards. U.N. Peace-Keeping Force sent to the island in 1964 was unable to protect the Turkish Cypriots against Greek Cypriot elements who were supported by some 20,000 mainland Greek forces clandestinely sent to the island.

Turkish Cypriots Held Hostage for Eleven Years 1963-1974

For the next eleven years, Turkish Cypriots were held hostage in their own land without representation in a joint government or participation in a joint administration in contravention of the 1960 Treaties.

Turkish Cypriot pleas for protection and assistance were basically ignored by the international community during those eleven years and the U.N. Peace-Keeping Force proved largely ineffective in providing security to the Turkish Cypriots.

The British House of Commons Select Committee on Foreign Affairs reported in July 1987: "There is little doubt that much of the violence which the Turkish Cypriots claim led to the total or partial destruction of 103 Turkish villages and the displacement of about a quarter of the total Turkish Cypriot population, was either directly inspired or certainly connived at by the Greek Cypriot leadership."

The Turkish Cypriots never accepted the Greek Cypriot fait accompli of December 1963. In order to protect themselves from constant Greek threats, and to take care of the political, economic and social needs of their own community started to establish in stages a separate Turkish Cypriot administration.

The Greek Coup d'etat of 15 July 1974 On July 15, 1974, a Greek-sponsored coup backed by thousands of Greek troops ousted the Greek Cypriot administration of Archbishop Makarios as a prelude to the annexation of the island by Greece.

On July 19, 1974, Archbishop Makarios addressed the U.N. Security Council in New York, telling the world that Greece was occupying Cyprus and that both Greek and Turkish Cypriots were in grave danger. In addition to the 103 villages which Turkish Cypriots had lost in 1963, Greek and Greek Cypriot troops occupied 33 more Turkish Cypriot villages. The coupists had killed around 3,000 Greek Cypriots and the leader of the Greek Cypriot Communist Party Mr.Papayoannu is on record saying that 4,000 of his members were on a list of people to be lined up and shot.

With no one else prepared to act, on July 20, 1974, the Republic of Turkey, in accordance with the 1960 Treaty of Guarantee, intervened to protect the Turkish Cypriot Community and to prevent the imminent annexation of Cyprus by Greece and the annihilation of the Turkish Cypriot population.

On August 30, 1974, the West German newspaper Die Zeit wrote, "The massacre of Turks in Paphos and Famagusta is the proof of how justified the Turks were to undertake their second intervention".

The total civilian population of Atlilar, Sandallar and Murataga had been lined up and shot by Greek Cypriots.

Peace on Cyprus 1974-1999

Since 1974, there have been no intercommunal violence or bloodshed in Cyprus. Turkish Cypriots no longer fear for their lives. In 1975, the U.N. Secretary-General was entrusted with a mission of good offices to bring the two parties together under agreed procedures and to facilitate negotiations on an equal footing.

The same year a population exchange agreement was concluded and implemented under U.N. auspices. In 1977 and 1979, two high level agreements were reached between the Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots for seeking a federal solution.