The Republican People's Party's Cyprus policy

The Cyprus problem which came to the fore in the 1950s has been shaped by many historical developments since then and has sustained its deadlock situation till this date. Two separate administrations emerged in the wake of the establishment of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in 1983 and following this development negotiations which have been still continuing, were commenced to unite these two separate administrations under a common framework. The Cyprus problem has reached different dimensions as well after the exploration of natural gas in high seas. The Republican People's Party administration which did not pursue an assertive policy line in the course of the eruption of the Cyprus problem, hindered the discussion of the issue by the Turkish public in order not to impair the regional peace as well as its bilateral relations with Greece. The Cyprus problem had become a national issue during the rule of İnönü-led governments starting with 1961 and Turkey made an attempt to carry out a military operation on the island following the escalation of the issue. The sensitivity of the İnönü governments regarding the Cyprus matter continued during the coalition government of the Prime Minister Bülent Ecevit. Ecevit set the stage for Turkey's main thesis, the partition thesis concerning the resolution of the Cyprus issue via conduct of the Peace Operation on the island. The foundation of the Federal State of Cyprus in 1975 and the establishment of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in 1983 could be considered as significant steps towards the realization of the partition thesis. The Annan Plan became one of the testing grounds of the Cyprus policy of the Republican People's Party which took shape by the İnönü governments. By appraising the plan as a major concession in favour of the Greek Cypriots, the Republican People's Party pursued a foreign policy line which opted for the independence of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. This study examines the transformation process of the Cyprus policy of the Republican People's Party in parallel to the developments regarding the Cyprus problem. Keywords: Cyprus problem, Republican People's Party, Cyprus Peace Operation, Annan Plan