Politics in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus

Authors : C. H. Dodd

Pages : 37-49

Doi:10.1501/Intrel_0000000209

View : 13 | Download : 16

Publication Date : 1992-05-01

Article Type : Research

Abstract :Neither Turkey nor the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNQ recognises the legitimacy of the Republic of Cyprus, and there is absolutely no doubt in either country about the legitimacy of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. This is a point worth while making at the beginning of any account of contemporary TRNC politics because in the TRNC a deep sense of moral indignation lies behind attitudes to the Cyprus issue and colours local politics-in which the Cyprus issue currently looms large. The Turkish Cypriots maintain that by means of the notorious Akritas Plan (never denied) the Greek Cypriots made a deliberate and violent attempt to force them to accept minority status instead of the community status accorded them in the 1960 Constitution, and that this was intended to be a prelude to enosis. Despite the extreme violence to which they had been subjected, the Turkish Cyriot deputies made a request in 1965 (conveyed by UNFYCIP) to take their seats in the House of Representatives. This was refused unless they accepted serious limitations to their powers.1 This denies the Greek Cypriot contention that "since 1963 the Government continues to function without the Turkish members, who wilfully abstain from their duties..."
Keywords : Politics, Turkish Republic, Northern Cyprus