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1960:
REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS
According
to Zurich-London Treaty, Cyprus becomes an independent
republic on 16th August 1960. It is a member of United
Nations, Council of Europe, Commonwealth and Non-Aligned
Movement. According to the above treaty, Britain retains
two Sovereign Bases (158.5 sq km) on the island, at
Dekeleia and Akrotiri-Episkopi. 1960 Constitution of
Cyprus Republic proves unworkable in many of its
provisions and this makes its smooth implementation
impossible.
In 1963, President of Republic proposes some amendments to
facilitate the functioning of the state and Turkish
Cypriot community responds with rebellion.
Turkish Cypriot ministers withdraw from Cabinet and
Turkish Cypriot civil servants cease attending their
offices, while Turkey threatens to invade Cyprus. Since
then, the aim of Turkish Cypriot leadership, acting on
instructions from Turkish Government, has been the
partitioning of Cyprus and its annexation to Turkey.
Using as a pretext the coup of July 1974, instigated
against Cyprus Government by the military Junta, then in
power in Athens, Turkey invades Cyprus on July 20 1974,
violating all principles governing international relations
and UN Charter. As a result, approximately 37% of the
island is occupied, 40% of Greek Cypriot population
violently uprooted and thousands of people, including
civilians, killed, ill-treated or disappear without
trace.
The continuation of Turkish military occupation and the
violation of the fundamental human rights of the people of
Cyprus have been condemned by international bodies, but
until today, Turkey refuses to withdraw from Cyprus and
maintains the island's division by the force of arms.
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