Research question of the Republic of Cyprus: Establishment and dissolution (1960-1963)

In the historical period, the importance of the Eastern Mediterranean has increased even more and the island of Cyprus has become a part of this process and has become a problem. It was necessary to examine the events that took place in the background in the formation of the current Cyprus problem, and for this reason, the establishment stages of the Republic of Cyprus and the developments that took place between 1960-63 when it existed were researched. The process that started in 1878 when the island left the Ottoman rule and came under British rule affected the formation of the Cyprus problem. During the periods when the British ruled the island, their relations with the locals and the policy they pursued in line with international interests affected the problem. Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots played a role as internal elements in the formation of the Cyprus problem. In the 18th and 19th centuries, the effects of the nationalism movement that started in Europe also affected the Greek Cypriots after Greece gained independence from the Ottoman Empire and they adopted the idea of Megali Idea in the island, which was under British rule. The Greeks, who were under the great influence of the Church, supported Enosis within the scope of the Megali Idea and adopted the idea of annexation of the island to Greece. In line with these aims, Greeks worked in cooperation with Greece for the realization of Enosis through diplomatic means. Since the Greeks could not achieve their Enosis objective diplomatically, they established the EOKA organization and wanted to realize their ambitions through violence. In order to prevent Enosis, Turkish Cypriots established the TMT in response to the EOKA terrorist organization established by the Greeks and fought to prevent Enosis. Britain, Turkey and Greece were the countries that directly influenced the formation of the Cyprus problem. Due to the pressure exerted by the Greeks and Greece both diplomatically and through violence, the Britain included Turkey to the problem. In this process, as the Cyprus problem was brought to the international arena within the scope of self-determination, the UN made Turkey a party to the Cyprus problem. Turkey and Turkish Cypriots defended the partition thesis in opposition to Enosis. NATO members Britain, Turkey and Greece had to solve the Cyprus problem as the problem gained an international aspect and as a result of the bipolar world order that dominated in the 1950s. The Republic of Cyprus was established with the equal partnership of the Turkish and Greek peoples with their large populations with the work carried out in this context. The Treaties of Guarantee and Alliance were signed in addition to the constitution of the Republic of Cyprus, which was established taking into account the homeland of the people living in Cyprus, the continued existence of British bases and the proximity of the island to mainland Turkey. Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots started to live together under the Republic of Cyprus on August 16, 1960, but the problems brought about by the historical process caused this partnership to collapse in December 1963. The main problem was that the Greeks did not recognize the constitution which was prepared on the basis of equal partnership during the republic years and the Greeks used the Republic of Cyprus as a stepping stone for Enosis. These attitudes of the Greeks were not accepted by the Turkish Cypriots and for this reason, Greek Cypriot attacks against the Turkish Cypriots started on December 21, 1963. As a result of the Greek attacks, also known as the Bloody Christmas, the effectiveness of the Turkish Cypriots in the government ended due to security reasons and the disintegration of the Republic of Cyprus took place.