Cyprus ad International Law
1. The Cyprus problem is an ongoing struggle between those defending the law and those trying to violate it. Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots scrupulously adhered to the agreements concluded on the subject. Zurich and London Agreements of 1959 were made to respect the equilibrium created between Turkey and Greece by the Lausanne Treaty. An equilibrium was also established between the two national communities on the island.
The prime ministers of Turkey and Greece came together in February 1959 in Zurich and determined the principles that would govern the international status as well as the Constitution of Cyprus. Subsequently, the prime ministers of Turkey, Greece and Great Britain were joined by the leaders of the Turkish and Greek Cypriot communities and signed a Memorandum. The Memorandum included the Basic Structure of the Republic of Cyprus and the draft treaties of Guarantee and Alliance. It also comprised the Declaration made by the leaders of the two communities accepting these documents. In this way a compromise solution was found on the basis of a bi-national independence, resting on the political equality and administrative partnership of the two communities; that was a functional federation where the rights of the two communities were safe-guarded.
The prime ministers of Turkey and Greece came together in February 1959 in Zurich and determined the principles that would govern the international status as well as the Constitution of Cyprus. Subsequently, the prime ministers of Turkey, Greece and Great Britain were joined by the leaders of the Turkish and Greek Cypriot communities and signed a Memorandum. The Memorandum included the Basic Structure of the Republic of Cyprus and the draft treaties of Guarantee and Alliance. It also comprised the Declaration made by the leaders of the two communities accepting these documents. In this way a compromise solution was found on the basis of a bi-national independence, resting on the political equality and administrative partnership of the two communities; that was a functional federation where the rights of the two communities were safe-guarded.
