Akritas Plan - Background To The Plan

Background To The Plan

In 1878 as a result of the Cyprus Convention, the United Kingdom received as a protectorate the island of Cyprus from the Ottoman Empire in exchange for United Kingdom's military support to the Ottoman Empire if Russia would attempt to take possession of territories of the Ottomans in Asia. Britain then administered Cyprus until 1960. In 1955, a Greek Cypriot army called EOKA declared officially a revolution of the entire Greek population (except for the communist) to stop the plans for the division of the 82% Greek island and expel the British forces (who were dening the right for Greek education) from the island and unite with Greece on the ground of self-determination of the inhabitants. The Turkish Cypriots at this time were greatly concerned and appealed to the British to keep control of the island. The Greek Cypriots were also concerned that a plan for independence instead of self-determination was forwarded, that would be the first step for the 18% minority Turks to take over the Island forming an apparheit regime on the native Christian population. But in 1960, the British gave in and turned power over to the Greek and Turkish Cypriots. A power sharing constitution was created for the new Republic of Cyprus which included both Turkish and Greek Cypriots holding power in Government. Three Treaties were written up to guarantee the integrity and security of the new republic: The Treaty of Establishment, the Treaty of Guarantee, and the Treaty of Alliance. According to constitution, Cyprus was to become an independent republic with a Greek Cypriot president and a Turkish Cypriot vice-president with full power sharing between Turkish and Greek Cypriots.