“The Republic of Cyprus is our most important achievement”, said the President of the Republic Nikos Christodoulides on Sunday, noting its preservation and enhancement of its status are of the highest priority.
The President made the remark on social media, on the occasion of the anniversary of the declaration of the Republic of Cyprus 65 years ago. His message was accompanied by the front pages of two newspapers from that era celebrating the declaration of the Republic’s independence.
He noted that the independence was the pinnacle moment in the long history of the country, the result of the ongoing struggles of its people, which culminated in the EOKA anti-colonial struggle.
“Our state, the Republic of Cyprus, is our most important achievement. Its preservation and enhancement of its status, as well as the reinforcement of all its sources of strength—both internally and internationally—are of the utmost priority”.
Domestically, he added, this involves “continuously modernising our state so it can meet the needs of our citizens, and internationally, strengthening the footprint and the status of the Republic of Cyprus”.
“It is within this framework that we will achieve the long-awaited goal of ending the Turkish occupation, liberating, and reunifying our homeland, the President of the Republic concluded.
History of the Republic of Cyprus
In 1960, Cyprus gained its independence following a liberation struggle against British colonial rule. Cyprus was, consequently, recognised as an independent and sovereign state and joined the family of nations as the Republic of Cyprus.
Between 1955-1959 the anti-colonial struggle took the form of an armed struggle under the direction of the EOKA movement. To resolve deadlocks and also to address tensions between the two communities on the island, the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots, a conference took place in Zurich on 11 February 1959, where agreement was reached between Greece and Turkey on a settlement plan.
On 19 February, following a conference in London, attended by the representatives of Greece, Turkey, Britain and the two Cypriot communities, an agreement was signed leading to the independence of Cyprus.
On the basis of the Zurich and London Agreements, a constitution was drafted and Cyprus was proclaimed an independent state on 16 August 1960, when, at an official ceremony held at the House of Representatives in Nicosia, the last British Governor Sir Hugh Foot transferred power to President Makarios in the presence of the Vice-President Dr Fazil Kutchuk.
However, it was subsequently decided by the Council of Ministers on 11 July 1963, that Independence Day be celebrated on 1st October.
.Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.
