Historical independence

History: Cyprus (1960 establishment)

From the 1955-1959 EOKA campaign and the Zurich and London Agreements to the establishment of the Republic of Cyprus on 16 August 1960 and UN admission that September.

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The EOKA campaign

EOKA, led by Georgios Grivas, waged a campaign of irregular warfare against British colonial rule from 1 April 1955 until a March 1959 ceasefire. Published figures for the campaign include roughly 104 British military dead, 51 police dead, and 102-112 EOKA members killed.[1]

· Conflict episode

Cyprus Emergency (EOKA campaign), 1955-1959

EOKA, led by Georgios Grivas, waged a campaign of irregular warfare against British rule from 1 April 1955 until a March 1959 ceasefire, causing a toll of roughly 104 British military dead, 51 police dead, and 102-112 EOKA members killed.

The Zurich and London Agreements

Turkey and Greece agreed a constitutional framework for Cyprus at Zurich on 11 February 1959; the United Kingdom, Archbishop Makarios III and Dr. Fazıl Küçük joined the agreement at Lancaster House, London, on 19 February 1959, setting the terms for independence.[2]

· Agreement

Zurich and London Agreements, 1959

Turkey and Greece agreed a constitutional framework for Cyprus at Zurich on 11 February 1959; the United Kingdom, Archbishop Makarios III and Dr. Fazıl Küçük joined the agreement at Lancaster House, London, on 19 February 1959.

Establishment of the Republic

The Cyprus Act, 1960, given Royal Assent on 29 July 1960, provided for the establishment of an independent Republic of Cyprus by Order in Council, with the United Kingdom retaining sovereignty over two Sovereign Base Areas.[3] Following the Zurich and London Agreements, treaties took effect in Nicosia on 16 August 1960 to establish the Republic, with Archbishop Makarios III and Dr. Fazil Küçük elected the first President and Vice President.[4]

· Agreement

Establishment of the Republic of Cyprus, 1960

Following the Zurich and London Agreements, the Cyprus Act, 1960 provided for an independent Republic of Cyprus, established on 16 August 1960 when the agreements' treaties took effect in Nicosia, with the United Kingdom retaining sovereignty over two Sovereign Base Areas.

United Nations membership

The Security Council unanimously recommended Cyprus's UN membership on 24 August 1960, and the General Assembly admitted it on 20 September 1960.[5][6]

· Recognition

Admission of Cyprus to the United Nations, 1960

The Security Council unanimously recommended the Republic of Cyprus's admission to the United Nations on 24 August 1960, and the General Assembly admitted it on 20 September 1960.

Sources for this page

Each number marks a specific claim. Notes give the source, its locator and how it relates to the claim.

  1. 1.

    Claim: EOKA, led by Georgios Grivas, launched a campaign of irregular warfare against British colonial rule on 1 April 1955, including bombings of government installations and ambushes of British troops; Governor Lord Harding declared a state of emergency on 26 November 1955. The campaign continued until a ceasefire in March 1959. Published figures include roughly 104 British military dead and 601 wounded, 51 police dead and 187 wounded, and 102-112 EOKA members killed.

  2. 2.

    Claim: Turkey and Greece agreed a constitution and two Treaties of Alliance and Guarantee for Cyprus at Zurich on 11 February 1959. On that basis, the United Kingdom joined the agreement together with Archbishop Makarios III (for the Greek Cypriot community) and Dr. Fazıl Küçük (for the Turkish Cypriot community) at Lancaster House, London, on 19 February 1959, setting the constitutional and treaty framework under which Cyprus became independent the following year.

  3. 3.

    Claim: The Cyprus Act, 1960, given Royal Assent on 29 July 1960, provided in Section 1 that Her Majesty could by Order in Council declare that the Constitution of the Republic of Cyprus "shall come into force on such day as may be specified in the Order; and on that day there shall be established in the Island of Cyprus an independent sovereign Republic of Cyprus, and Her Majesty shall have no sovereignty or jurisdiction over the Republic of Cyprus." Section 2 provided that the Republic would comprise the entire island except for two Sovereign Base Areas retained under British sovereignty.

    • Parliament of the United Kingdom, Cyprus Act, 1960 (8 & 9 Eliz. 2, c. 52) (29 July 1960) link, Sections 1 and 2. Government perspective or primary official source Source record
  4. 4.

    Claim: Following the Zurich and London Agreements, treaties were formally signed in Nicosia on 16 August 1960 and took effect the same day to establish the Republic of Cyprus, with Archbishop Makarios III and Dr. Fazil Küçük elected the first President and Vice President.

    • EBSCO Research Starters, Cyprus Gains Independence (EBSCO) link, article text. Source record
  5. 5.

    Claim: On 24 August 1960, at its 892nd meeting, the Security Council, having examined the application of the Republic of Cyprus, unanimously recommended to the General Assembly that Cyprus be admitted to UN membership.

    • United Nations Security Council, Security Council resolution 155 (1960) (United Nations, 24 August 1960) link, resolution text. Source record
  6. 6.

    Claim: The General Assembly, at its 864th plenary meeting on 20 September 1960, having received the Security Council's recommendation and considered Cyprus's application, "decides to admit the Republic of Cyprus to membership in the United Nations," alongside several other states admitted the same day.

    • United Nations General Assembly, General Assembly resolution 1489 (XV): Admission of the Republic of Cyprus to membership in the United Nations (United Nations, 20 September 1960) link, operative paragraph. Source record

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