Proposed union with Greece
In 1948, King Paul of Greece declared that Cyprus desired union
with Greece. In 1951 the Orthodox Church of Cyprus presented a referendum
according to which around 97% of the Greek Cypriot population wanted
the union. The United Nations accepted the Greek petition and enosis
became an international issue. In 1952 both Greece and Turkey became
members of NATO.
EOKA (National Organization
of Cypriot Fighters), a terrorist group, was formed in 1955 under
the leadership of George Grivas, a Greek Cypriot army officer with
right-wing extremist beliefs and the support of the dictatorship
that had formed in Greece in the same period. For the next few years
EOKA attacked primarily British or British-connected targets. Great
Britain reacted, with equal brutality and threats of satisfying
the Turkish interests. Archbishop Makarios and other Cypriot clergy
and political leaders were forced into exile in Seychelles. In 1957
the U.N. decided that the issue should be resolved according to
its Statutory Map. The exiles returned, and both sides began a series
of violent acts against each other.
On February 19, 1959 the
Zurich agreement attempted to end the conflict. Without either the
Greek or Turkish side being present, Britain outlined a Cypriot
constitution, which was eventually accepted by both sides. Both
Greece and Turkey along with Britain were appointed as guarantors
of the island's integrity. Some of the major points of the Zurich
agreement are:
• Cyprus becomes an
independent state.
• Both taksim and enosis are prohibited.
• Greek and Turkish military forces at a ratio of around 1.5:1
were to be present at all time in Cyprus. Both forces should answer
to all three Foreign Ministers: of Greece, Turkey and Cyprus.
• The President should be a Greek Cypriot elected by the Greek
Cypriot population and the Vice President a Turkish Cypriot elected
by the Turkish Cypriot population.
• The Cabinet should include 7 Greek Cypriots elected by the
President and 3 Turkish Cypriots elected by the Vice President.
• Decisions need an absolute majority but both the President
and the Vice President have the right of veto.
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