Foreign relations of the Turkish cypriot administration (December 1963–1964)

This thesis analyzes the political, military, and humanitarian challenges faced by the Turkish Cypriot community during the December 1963 crisis and throughout 1964, examining its external relations within a historical perspective. The study draws upon archival documents from Osman Örek, letters written by Dr. Fazıl Küçük to the United Nations, reports preserved in the Turkish Historical Society, and international press sources of the period. Rather than merely presenting the chronology of events, the research also explores the strategies of the Turkish Cypriot leadership, including its coordination with Turkey, diplomatic initiatives carried out through the United Nations, and efforts to generate legitimacy before the international community. Within this framework, a general historical background has been outlined, addressing the collapse of the partnership structure of the 1960 Republic of Cyprus, the implementation of the Akritas Plan, the "Bloody Christmas" attacks, and the effectiveness of the UN Peacekeeping Force. International documents such as the Ortega Report highlight the impact of the conflict on civilian life with technical data, while the correspondence of the Turkish Cypriot leadership reflects diplomatic discourses grounded in self-determination and international law. At this point, the de-facto institutional structure of the Turkish Cypriot Administration is assessed as a functional administrative and diplomatic actor, despite the absence of formal international recognition. Furthermore, the constructivist approach that frames this study provides an analytical basis for understanding how legitimacy and discursive practices were shaped in the external relations of the Turkish Cypriot community during this period. In conclusion, this thesis demonstrates that the external relations of the Turkish Cypriot Administration in 1963–1964 were defined both by responses to security and humanitarian crises and by persistent efforts to achieve legitimacy in the international arena. By doing so, it offers a comprehensive historical background for understanding the roots of the Cyprus conflict.