The impact of Fatin Rustu Zorlu on Turkish Foreign Policy and Cyprus issue between 1955-1960

Following the end of World War II, Turkey has placed an emphasis on the necessity to adopt the multi-party system for westernization and democratization purposes, which it was unable to achieve twice. Following the establishment of the Democratic Party (DP) in 1946 and starting political life and coming to the power alone in 1950, especially the Turkish foreign policy had a great importance in a period when the Cold War was felt intensely. Marking a remarkable impact on the recent history, the foreign policy of Democrat Party was shaped by the influence of Fatin Rüştü Zorlu, and Turkey had a proactive foreign policy upon he became the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Fatin Rüştü Zorlu applied policies to establish the regional peace such as "Bandung Conference" and "Baghdad Pact" in its foreign policy activities and increased the diplomatic power of Turkey in international platforms. The greatest contribution of Turkish foreign policy to the international relations under the influence of Fatih Rüştü Zorlu is that he was the politician to initiate the "détente" between two Cold War Bloc with "versatile foreign policy approach." Zorlu has the biggest impact for adopting the Cyprus issue as a national cause, particularly between 1955 and 1960. Zorlu spent the majority of his time to solve the Cyprus issue with amicable means between 1958 and1959 and showed a great resistance against the "Enosis" activities of the Greeks thanks to his personal diplomatic capability and statesmanship. Today, Cyprus issue is one of the most important subjects of Turkish foreign policy and one of the national causes. Therefore, to have a better understanding of the Cyprus issue and take a concrete step for a solution, we have to take a close look at the foreign policy led by Fatih Rüştü Zorlu and examine the Cyprus issue in that perspective.