The Cyprus Emergency was a period of intense political and military conflict in Cyprus between 1955 and 1959. This conflict arose from the Greek Cypriot struggle for Enosis, the union of Cyprus with Greece, against the British colonial rule.
Background
Cyprus, strategically located in the Eastern Mediterranean, had been a part of the Ottoman Empire until 1878 when it was leased to Britain as part of the Treaty of Berlin. Following World War I, Cyprus was formally annexed by Britain in 1914. The push for Enosis intensified after World War II as Greek Cypriots sought self-determination and union with Greece.
Ethnic Tensions
The island's population was divided primarily between Greek Cypriots (about 80%) and Turkish Cypriots (about 18%). The Greek Cypriot community, led by the Ethniki Organosis Kyprion Agoniston (EOKA), engaged in guerrilla warfare against British rule. On the other hand, the Turkish Cypriot community, fearing the implications of Enosis, supported the continuation of British rule, leading to inter-communal tensions.
Key Events
- 1955: EOKA, under the leadership of Georgios Grivas, launched its campaign against British rule with attacks on British military installations and personnel.
- 1956: The British government declared a state of emergency, leading to increased military presence and the implementation of harsh security measures. This included internment, curfews, and widespread searches.
- 1957: The conflict escalated with the formation of the Turkish Resistance Organization (TMT) by Turkish Cypriots to counter EOKA's activities and to prevent Enosis.
- 1958: The inter-communal violence increased, with attacks between Greek and Turkish Cypriots, leading to significant casualties and displacement.
End of the Emergency
By 1959, the situation had deteriorated to a point where international intervention was necessary:
- 1959: The Zurich and London Agreements were signed, paving the way for the end of British rule and the establishment of the Republic of Cyprus. Cyprus was granted independence, but with a constitution that ensured power-sharing between Greek and Turkish Cypriots, preventing both Enosis and Taksim (partition).
Legacy
The Cyprus Emergency left a lasting impact:
- The conflict set the stage for future ethnic tensions that would culminate in the Cyprus Conflict of 1974.
- It highlighted the complexities of colonial withdrawal and the challenges of ethnic coexistence in post-colonial settings.
- The British military bases of Akrotiri and Dhekelia remained under British sovereignty, creating a unique geopolitical situation.
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