Information on the Turkish Invasion and the Cyprus Problem

Documents relatiing to the Cyprus Issue

The Third Vienna Agreement - August 1975

High-Level Agreement of 12 February 1977

Agreement on Missing Persons - July 1997

The 10-Point Agreement of 19 May 1979

Communique issued after the third phase of the intercommunal talks in Vienna
The third round of talks on Cyprus was held in Vienna from 31 July to 2 August 1975.

Preliminary discussions were held on the powers and functions of a federal government on the basis of the original Greek Cypriot proposals submitted at the first round, the Turkish Cypriot paper of the 21st of July and the more comprehensive paper presented by Mr. Clerides at this meeting. Further examination of this subject will continue in Nicosia with a view to a final discussion, together with the other aspects relating to the solution of the Cyprus problem, at the next round of talks. Mr. Denktash expressed his views on the comprehensive paper submitted by Mr. Clerides and also on his own proposals for a transitional joint government submitted by him on 18 July. Mr. Clerides referred to his previous position in this regard.

A discussion of the geographical aspects of a future settlement of the Cyprus problem took place. It was agreed that Mr. Clerides and Mr. Denktash would have further private talks on this subject prior to the fourth round of the Cyprus talks with a view to preparing the discussion of this matter which will take place at that time.

In addition the following was agreed:

1. The Turkish Cypriots at present in the South of the Island will be allowed, if they want to do so, to proceed North with their belongings under an organized programme and with the assistance of UNFICYP.
2. Mr. Denktash reaffirmed, and it was agreed, that the Greek Cypriots at present in the North of the Island are free to stay and that they will be given every help to lead a normal life, including facilities for education and for the practice of their religion, as well as medical care by their own doctors and freedom of movement in the North.
3. The Greek Cypriots at present in the North who, at their own request and without having been subjected to any kind of pressure, wish to move to the South will be permitted to do so.
4. UNFICYP will have free and normal access to Greek Cypriot villages and habitations in the North.
5. In connection with the implementation of the above agreement priority will be given to the re-unification of families, which may also involve the transfer of a number of Greek Cypriots, at present in the South, to the North.

The question of displaced persons was also re-examined.

Although both sides again affirmed that they were not knowingly holding undeclared prisoners-of-war or other detainees, it was agreed mutually to extend full facilities for searches in response to information given by either side.

Both sides declared that the Nicosia International Airport, which has been repaired by the United Nations under the agreement reached at the first round, can be used, as a first step, by the United Nations for its needs.

The fourth round of talks will take place, due to the Secretary General’s commitments in regard to the General Assembly, at United Nations headquarters in New York on 8 and 9 September 1975.

2 August, 1975

High-Level Agreement of 12 February 1977

The following is the text of the agreement between the then President of the Republic, Archbishop Makarios, and the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mr. Denktash, concluded on 12 February 1977 during a meeting under the auspices of the United Nations Secretary-General.
The text of the agreed instructions (guidelines) reads as follows:

1. We are seeking an independent, non-aligned, bi-communal Federal Republic.

2. The territory under the administration of each community should be discussed in the light of economic viability or productivity and land ownership.

3. Questions of principles like freedom of movement, freedom of settlement, the right of property and other specific matters, are open for discussion, taking into consideration the fundamental basis of a bi-communal federal system and certain practical difficulties which may arise for the Turkish Cypriot Community.

4. The powers and functions of the central federal government will be such as to safeguard the unity of the country having regard to the bi-communal character of the State.

Agreement on Missing Persons - July 1997

United Nations Press Release Concerning Missing Persons in Cyprus
(Nicosia, 31 July 1997)

At their meeting this evening in the presence of the Chief of Mission of the United Nations Operation in Cyprus, the leaders of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities agreed to issue the following statement concerning missing persons in Cyprus:

The leaders of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities consider the problem of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot missing persons in Cyprus as a purely humanitarian issue the solution of which is long overdue.

The two leaders agree that no political exploitation should be made by either side of the problem of the missing persons and they pledge to work for its solution in order to terminate the agony and the uncertainty of the families of the missing persons, both Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot.

The two leaders respect the right of the families of the missing to be informed of the fate of their loved ones in a convincing and conclusive manner to the best extent possible.

The two leaders recognize the right of those families whose missing loved ones are proved to be dead to have, to the best extent possible, their remains for proper burial in accordance with their religious traditions and practices.

In line with the above, the two leaders agree, as a first step to resolving the problem of the missing persons, to provide each other immediately and simultaneously all information already at their disposal on the location of graves of Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot missing persons.

The two leaders will each designate a person who, by the end of September 1997, will exchange the information referred to in the previous paragraph and will prepare the necessary arrangements leading to the return of the remains of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot missing persons in question. The two leaders also agreed that the remains of persons known to have been killed in action on either side will be returned to their families. The First Assistant to the Third Member of the Committee of Missing Persons will assist as necessary.

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Both leaders requested the Secretary-General to appoint a new Third Member of the Committee in Missing Persons (CMP) in order to expedite the conclusion of the work of the CMP.

The 10-Point Agreement of 19 May 1979

Following is the text of the agreement between the then President of the Republic, Mr. Kyprianou, and the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mr. Denktash, concluded on 19 May during a meeting under the auspices of the U.N. Secretary-General, Dr. Waldheim:
1. It was agreed to resume the intercommunal talks on 15 June 1979.

2. The basis for the talks will be the Makarios-Denktash guidelines of 12 February 1977 and the U.N. resolutions relevant to the Cyprus question.

3. There should be respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms of all citizens of the Republic.

4. The talks will deal with all territorial and constitutional aspects.

5. Priority will be given to reaching agreement of the resettlement of Varosha under U.N. auspices simultaneously with the beginning of the consideration by the interlocutors of the constitutional and territorial aspects of a comprehensive settlement. After agreement on Varosha has been reached it will be implemented without awaiting the outcome of the discussion on other aspects of the Cyprus problem.

6. It was agreed to abstain from any action which might jeopardize the outcome of the talks, and special importance will be given to initial practical measures by both sides to promote goodwill, mutual confidence and the return to normal conditions.

7. The demilitarization of the Republic of Cyprus is envisaged, and matters relating thereto will be discussed.

8. The independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and non-alignment of the Republic should be adequately guaranteed against union in whole or in part with any other country and against any form of partition or secession.

9. The intercommunal talks will be carried out in a continuing and sustained manner, avoiding any delay.

10. The intercommunal talks will take place in Nicosia.