Ottoman occupation and British domination

1571

Cyprus is conquered by the Ottoman Empire. The Ottomans organise the migration of 20 000 Muslim Turks (the ancestors of Turkish Cypriots) from Anatolia to the island, which was inhabited by Greeks

1878

June 4

During the Berlin Congress, the Ottoman Empire gives Great Britain the right to administer Cyprus, but keeps formal sovereignty over the island

1914

November 5

Following the Ottoman war declaration to the Allies, Great Britain annexes Cyprus

1923

July 24

Defeated Turkey recognises the annexation and renounces to any claims on Cyprus (Treaty of Lausanne)

1925

March 10

The island becomes a British colony. A self-determination movement is created, which itself contains the germs of today’s conflict: whereas many Greek Cypriots want to form a union with Greece, Enisos, the Turkish community wants the partition of the Island, better known as Taskin

1931

21 October

First Greek Cypriot riot against the British. Oktovriana is the name given to the following uprisings

1950

15 January

During a referendum organised by the Archbishop Makarios III, 96% of Greek Cypriots voice their will to be united to Greece

1954

July

The British draft a new Constitution, which is accepted by the Turkish population but rejected by the EOKA (National organisation of Cypriot combatants (pro-Greek)

Fight for independence

1955

April 1

The EOKA, the Greek underground movement begins armed struggle for Enosis against British colonial rules

September 6-7

Conference with Great Britain, Greece and Turkey on Cyprus, anti-Greek riots in Istambul

1956

After the nationalisation of the Suez Canal and the British-French expedition against Egypt, Cyprus becomes the largest British military base in the East Mediterranean

1957

November 15

The Turkish Community creates the TMT (Türk Mudafa Teskilat), the Organisation of the Turkish resistance

1958

The number of Greek-Turkish altercations rises, first in Nicosia and then on the whole island

1959

February 11, 19

Zurich and London Agreements between Great-Britain, Greece and Turkey; signature of a treaty, which prepares the emergence of an independent Cyprus State. Drafting of a Constitution with great emphasis on communautarism.

Cyprus independence, inter-community violence

1960

August 16

Declaration of independence of the Republic of Cyprus, led by a Greek President, Archbishop Makarios, and by a Turkish Vice-President, Fazil Kücük. Great-Britain, Greece and Turkey become guarantors of the sovereignty and integrity of the new state.

1963

November 30

President Makarios’attempts to implement 13 constitutional changes is perceived by the Turkish Cypriots as an attempt to change the constitutionally based distribution of power This triggers violent intercommunal fighting, during which about one thousand Turkish and two hundred Greek Cypriots are killed.

1964

March 4

UN Resolution 186 creating the UNFICYP ( UN peacekeeping force in Cyprus). This 7000 soldiers force is in charge of maintaining the cease-fire lines and buffer zone.

September 16

The UN Secretary General assigns Galo Plaza, former President of Ecuador, as UN mediator for Cyprus. On June 23 1965, he issues a controversial report, concluding on the necessity of maintaining contacts and regular meetings between the 2 communities in order to come to peaceful settlement. He is withdrawn.

1972

December 19

Association Agreement between the Republic Cyprus and the European Community. Comes into force on the first of June 1973.

The partition of the island

1974

July 15

Greek junta (in power since April 21st 1967) supports EOKA-B coup against Makarios. Nicos Sampson, a Turkish enemy, who is in favour of the Enosis takes power.

July 20

Turkish Prime Minister, Bulent Ecevit, agrees to a military intervention. Turkish troops arrive on the North of the island for a “peace operation, which goal is to protect Turkish Cypriots”

July 24-30

Great-Britain, Greece and Turkey meet in Geneva and insist on the UN Blue Helmets keeping a “security zone” and recognise the existence of two autonomous administrations. They meet again in August.

August 14-16

The Turkish army controls 37% of the island. The island is divided and as a consequence, 80 000 Greek Cypriots flee to the South of the Island.

In response to these events, the UN security council votes resolutions, which extend the UNFICYP mandate to protect the cease-fire declared on the 14^th of August 1974 as well as the buffer zone between Greek and Turkish Cypriots

November 1

UN General Assembly resolution 3212: strengthens the UNFICYP to control the 180 km “Green line” that separates the island and Nicosia.

December 7

Makarios returns to Presidency until 1977

1975

February 13

Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash declares the Trukish Federal State

August 2

Intercommunal talks in Vienna, agreement on population exchange: 110 000 Turkish Cypriots settle in the North, 585 000 Greek Cypriots in the South (from whom 180 000 were rejected from the North).

1976

June

Rauf Denktash is elected “President of the Turkish Federal State of Cyprus”

Negotiations and European perspectives

1977

February 12

Framework Agreement between Makarios and Denktash setting parameters for a bicommunal federation

August 3

Death of Makarios, Kyprianou becomes President. Negotiations are stopped.

1978

Negotiation between Kyprianou and Dentktash start again

1979

May 19

Under the UN hospices, Ten point agreement between Kyprianou and Denktash on the same basis as the 1977 agreement.

1983

November 15

Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus unilaterally declared. No country besides Turkey recognises TRNC.

1984-1987

In 1984 the UN Secretary General presents a draft peace agreement, which does not lead to any serious solution. Series of talks between Spyros Kyrianou and Rauf Denktash under the UN auspices. No real progress is made.

1988

January 30- February 2

For the first time since 1978, Greek and Turkish government leaders meet in Davos, Switzerland

1990

July 3

Formal application made by the Republic of Cyprus for the EU membership. Rauf Denktash and Ankara threaten to integrate TRNC to Turkey

1992

April 10

The UNSC resolution 750 reaffirms the independence, territorial sovereignty and unique citizenship of the island in the frame of a federation.

November 25

The UNSC resolution 789 blames the Turkish party for the low progress in the negotiation process and asks for a reduction of Turkish troops on Cyprus.

1993

February 14

Vasiliou loses narrowly to Clerides in run off presidential elections. 19 years before, Clerides had been the interim President following the 1974 coup

June 30

The European Commission agrees to the application of EU membership and underlines the fact that this application was made in the name the whole island.

November

Greece and Turkey sign a joint defence agreement

1995

March 6

EU agreement to open accession talks with Cyprus

Tension escalation

1996

Series of incidents on the “Green line” and in the buffer zone. On August 15, Rauf denktash and Tansu Ciller, Turkish Foreign Minister, ask for a “restart” of the inter-communities negotiations.

1997

January 4

Clerides orders Russian S 300 missiles. Turkey makes threats of military deployment and decides to negotiate with Belgium and the Netherlands to buy ground-air missiles. With the intervention of an American émissaire, Clerides agrees to wait for 18 months before deploying the missiles.

August 11-15

Clerides and Denktash meet for a 5 day UN sponsored talks in New York. Further talks in Switzerland fail.

November 4-5

Ankara organises the biggest military manoeuvres on Northern Cyprus since 1974.

EU accession

1998

EU accession negotiations open. Denktash said that TRNC would unite with Turkey if Cyprus joined the EU. A formalised association accord is signed between Turkey and Northern Cyprus.

1999

Earthquakes in Turkey and Greece lead to warming of relations between countries.

UN-sponsored indirect talks in New York end without progress but continue. February 5, TRNC government refuses the deployment of an international force on the island, which had been asked by the Greek Cypriots.

2000

Negotiation continue without results. Denktash is re-elected.

2001

November 4

Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit mentions the possible annexation of the Northern part of the island if the Greek part is to join the EU.

November 27

Turkey declares that they reject any solution that would lower the Turkish Cypriots to a minority status and is determined to protect their interest on the divided island.

December 4

First meeting between Clerides and Dentktash since 1997. The summit is held in the buffer zone. They decide to start negotiations in January 2002 to end the division of the island.

The UN and conflict resolution

2002

January 16

The direct UN-sponsored negotiations take place on a weekly basis.

June 30

Negotiations end without agreement.

October 9

The European Commission recommends that the European Council to be held in Copenhagen on December 12-13 should accept Cyprus EU accession by May 1, 2004.

November 11

UN secretary General Kofi Annan presents a plan to the Security Council, which proposes to re-unite the 2 parts of the island to form a federation of equal states. Clerides and Denktash must decide on the proposition before February 28, 2003, which was set as a deadline.

December 12-13

Following the European Council of Copenhagen, the Republic of Cyprus was officially recognised as one of the 10 new states that will be joining the EU in Mai 2004.

2003

February 16

Tassos Papadopoulos, head of the centre link party Diko, defeated Clerides in the presidential elections with 51,51%.

March 11

Kofi Annan organises negotiations in The Hague between President Papadopoulos and Raud Denktash. Kofi Annan proposes that the new peace plan be submitted to a referendum on both parts of the island on March 30, 2003. Rauf Denktash refuses this solution explaining that the peace plan is not acceptable for Turkish Cypriots.

April

The Republic of Cyprus officially signed the accession treaty to the EU in Athens. The Northern part of Cyprus will not be included.

April 24

For the first time in 29 years Greek and Turkish Cypriots may cross the Green Line: it is opened by the Turkish Cypriot administration and the Greek side also allows unfettered access between north and south. Some 2 million people pass across the line during the remainder of 2003 without incident.

2004

April 24

 The Annan Plan for reunification is  rejected in the south, with 70% voting against; in the Turkish north, 65% vote in favor of the plan despite the officials‘ opposition.

May 1

The Republic of Cyprus enters the European Union, with the Turkish north declining to join.

December

Turkey agrees that it will recognize the Greek Cyprus de facto as an EU member before the start of its own accession talks scheduled for October 2005. However Turkish Prime Minister warns the Cyprus problem should be solved justly and the EU should keep its promises to Turkish Cypriots.

2005

17 April

Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat elected TRNC president. Denktash Era ends in Turkish Cyprus.

 

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