Cyprus Issue

What is the Cyprus Issue?

The Cyprus Issue is a multifaceted dispute arising from questions of political equality, power-sharing and security between the two peoples of the island – the Turkish Cypriots and the Greek Cypriots. Over time, it has evolved into a matter of regional and international concern, involving the guarantor states and various international organisations.

Historical Background

Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots have lived on the island for centuries. Cyprus came under British administration towards the end of the 19th century. In the 1950s, organisations pursuing the goal of Enosis (union of the island with Greece), particularly on the Greek Cypriot side, resorted to violence, leading to serious tensions and intercommunal clashes on the island.

In 1959, the London and Zurich Agreements were concluded by Türkiye, Greece and the United Kingdom. On this basis, the bi-communal Republic of Cyprus was established in 1960, with the Turkish Cypriot people recognised as a politically equal co-founding partner. The 1960 Constitution provided for a power-sharing arrangement and representation of both communities in the organs of the new state.

Breakdown of the Partnership State and the 1963 Events

Soon after independence, attempts by the Greek Cypriot side to unilaterally amend the Constitution and weaken the co-founder status and rights of the Turkish Cypriots undermined the functioning of the partnership state. In 1963, intercommunal violence – often referred to as the “Bloody Christmas” events – led to Turkish Cypriots being forced out of the state institutions and compelled to live in enclaves for their safety.

In 1964, the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) was deployed. A ceasefire line, later known as the “Green Line”, emerged, physically separating the two communities in many parts of the island.

The 1974 Coup and its Aftermath

In 1974, a coup d’état was staged in Cyprus, backed by the then military regime in Greece and aiming at Enosis. This development prompted Türkiye to exercise its rights and obligations as a guarantor power under the 1960 Treaty of Guarantee. Türkiye’s intervention brought widespread hostilities to an end and provided a new environment for the security and physical safety of the Turkish Cypriot people.

As a result, the island came to be administered by two separate authorities – the Turkish Cypriots in the north and the Greek Cypriots in the south – with a UN-controlled buffer zone in between. This situation has persisted to this day.

Proclamation of the TRNC and Negotiation Processes

In the years that followed, the Turkish Cypriot people consolidated their own democratic institutions and governance structures. In 1983, they proclaimed the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). While strengthening its internal institutions and economy, the Turkish Cypriot side has also actively engaged in efforts to reach a just and lasting settlement of the Cyprus Issue.

Negotiations under United Nations auspices were for many years based on the model of a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation, as reflected in the 1977 and 1979 High-Level Agreements between the two sides. Successive UN Secretaries-General have put forward various plans and comprehensive settlement proposals. However, despite numerous rounds of talks, no overall agreement has been reached to date.

Fundamental Principles of the Turkish Cypriot Side

For the Turkish Cypriot side, any settlement of the Cyprus Issue must be based on:

– Political equality between the two sides,
– Equal international status and security,
– A mutually acceptable arrangement reflecting the free will of both peoples,
– A realistic, sustainable and implementable settlement framework.

The Turkish Cypriot people have demonstrated their commitment to peace, reconciliation and cooperation on several occasions, including in past referenda on settlement plans. However, the lack of trust between the sides, divergent views on equal status, and differing visions for the future of the island have made it difficult to achieve a comprehensive settlement.

Current Situation and Future Prospects

Today, the Cyprus Issue remains a key factor not only for relations between the two communities, but also for stability, energy security and cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean. Contacts between the sides continue within the framework of the United Nations good offices mission, while efforts are made to develop confidence-building measures, improve day-to-day interaction and explore possible new bases for negotiations.

The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus maintains its resolve to achieve a fair, lasting and realistic settlement in which the Turkish Cypriot people, as co-owners of the island, enjoy equal status, security and the place they rightfully deserve in the international community.