The most complete information guide about Athens, Greece
HISTORY
OF ATHENS
The
Greek Military Junta
(Regime of the Colonels)
The Cyprus Dispute and fall of the Junta
1960-1974: Constitutional breakdown
According to constitutional arrangements, Cyprus was to become
an independent, non-aligned republic with a Greek Cypriot president
and a Turkish Cypriot vice-president. General executive authority
was vested in a council of ministers with a ratio of seven Greeks
to three Turks. The Greek Cypriots represented 78% of the population
and the Turkish Cypriots 18%. The remaining 4% was made up by
minority communities.
Within
a short period of time the first disputes started to arise between
the two communities. Issues of contention included taxation and
the creation of separate municipalities. Because of the legislative
veto system, this resulted in a lockdown in communal and state
politics in many cases.
Repeated
attempts to solve the disputes failed. Eventually, on 30 November
1963, Makarios put forward
a thirteen-point proposal designed to eliminate impediments to
the functioning of the government. Turkey initially rejected it.
A few days later, on 2 December 1963, fighting erupted between
the communities in Nicosia. In the days that followed it spread
across the rest of the island.
At
the same time, the power-sharing government collapsed. How this
happened is one of the most contentious issues in modern Cypriot
history. The Greek Cypriots argue that the Turkish Cypriots withdrew
in order to form their own administration. The Turkish Cypriots
argue that they were forced out. In reality, as is often the case
in these situations, there is truth to both arguments.
Many
Turkish Cypriots chose to withdraw from the government. However,
in many cases those who wished to stay in their jobs were prevented
from doing so by the Greek Cypriots. Also, many of the Turkish
Cypriots refused to attend because they feared for their lives
after the recent violence that had erupted. In the days that followed
the fighting, a frantic effort was made to calm tensions.
In
the end, on 27 December, an interim peacekeeping force, the
Joint Truce Force, was put together by Britain, Greece and
Turkey. This held the line until a United Nations peacekeeping
force, UNFICYP, was formed following UN Security Council Resolution
186, passed on 4 March 1964.