Cyprus is Europe's longest frozen conflict, having seen thousands of casualties and people displaced from their homes. More than 2000 Cypriots are still listed as missing persons today; lost in a war that has never been resolved.;xNLx;;xNLx;Here is a brief history of the political events that has seen Cyprus remain divided 55 years on.
The Republic of Cyprus, Turkey, Greece and Great Britain sign the Treaty of Guarantee, a treaty ensuring the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Cyprus. A promotion of a union or partition of the island is a breach of the treaty, and entitles the guarantor powers to act if the state's sovereignty should be under threat.
Cyprus gains independence from Britain under a power-sharing constitution between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, and Archbishop Makarios becomes the first elected president.
President Makarios proposes a controversial amendment to the constitution that would terminate power-sharing arrangements between the two communities. The liquidation plan is later known as the Akritas Plan, and sets out the guidelines for achieving enosis, a union with Greece. Despite losing a lawsuit by Turkish Cypriots in the Supreme Constitutional Court of Cyprus (SCCC), Makarios legalizes the amendments on 30th November.
Following the constitutional amendment a civil war breaks out, and hundreds of people are killed in the inter-communal fightings. A guerrilla war erupts between Greek Cypriot militia EOAKA-B and the Turkish Cypriot militia TMT. The "Bloody Christmas Massacre" is the catalyst to the massacres that follow. Both communities suffered multiple massacres. In total approximately 900 Cypriots were killed and buried in mass graves between 1963 and 1974.
Following the Christmas Massacres, the green line (buffer zone) is drawn through Nicosia, making it a divided capital.
The United Nations establish their peacekeeping force UNFICYP under resolution 186 (1964) to prevent further violence between the communities and contribute to restoring normal conditions on the island.
The military junta in Greece supports a coup d'état against President Makarios on July 15th, seeking to unify Cyprus with Greece (enosis). Makarios flees the country.
Turkish troops land in the north and enables Article IV of the Treaty of Guarantee, vowing to protect the Turkish Cypriot community. Actions that have later been legally questioned by the United Nations and the International community. By the end of the Turkish intervention, which they name The Cyprus Peace Operation, Turkey occupies one third of Cyprus.
A ceasefire is declared by Turkish forces after weeks of fighting.
The Commission of Human Rights ask for a greater effort in tracing and accounting for missing persons in Cyprus.
