Cyprus: the Divided Island

Cyprus has been invaded and controlled by the Romans, the Crusaders, and the Venetians. It then endured three hundred years of Ottoman rule. In 1878 the island came under British protection. Today it is an equal partner in the European Union, but a divided country. What brought Cyprus to this mixed fortune?

Despite the machinations of Britain up to 1959 Cyprus, through armed struggle and political determination, gained independence. Under pressure from the Americans; Greece and Turkey were persuaded to guarantee sovereignty for Cyprus and British Prime Minister, Harold Macmillan said Britain would hand over the country providing it could keep its bases.

So, on August 15, 1960 the Union Flag was lowered for the last time over Government House in Nicosia. Archbishop Makarios became president and Dr Fazil Kuchuk, a Turkish Cypriot, his vice president. The new republic was formed.

As the new flag was unfurled, a copper silhouette of the island on a white background with crossed green olive branches, the crowd of Greek and Turkish Cypriots cheered loudly. It was a symbol of unity between the two communities. Governor Sir Hugh Foot left behind something more: a Treaty of Establishment, a Treaty of Alliance, a Treaty of Guarantee – and the 1960 Constitution.

The latter was so badly flawed that, apart from being unworkable, it divided the two communities rather than uniting them. After all, it was designed to protect Western Interests.

Under pressure from NATO, Cypriots were foisted with a Constitution that denied them government by an elected majority, denied them the right to change their constitution and guaranteed NATO powers military influence on the island.

Although President Makarios was originally pro-Enosis, a plan that promised a unity with Greece, he saw the impracticality of it and steered for Independence. This gave room for the Communist party, AKEL, with 30 per cent of the vote, to throw its weight behind the new president.

Many warned that the new constitution was unworkable but Makarios was unable to have it changed before it was adopted.

Its main fault lay in the voting system. On community matters the two groups voted independently. On fiscal matters separate majorities from Muslim Cypriots and Greek Orthodox Cypriots were required. The Muslims held 15 votes and the Greek Orthodox 35. But by the rules laid down a vote of only eight from the Turkish Cypriot benches could always block 35 Greek-Cypriot votes plus seven Turkish Cypriot votes.

Time after time legislation never entered the statute. In “62 the Turkish Cypriot side boycotted a vote on the Budget, forcing Makarios to resort to Emergency powers to run the country.