BACKGROUND TO THE CYPRUS CRISIS by Takis Tsioupra
We reproduce here =n article (somewhat shortened) which appeared in the February issue of Colonial Freedom Nows.for background informat— ion to the Cyprus crisis. We shall be commenting editorially on the crisis in the next issue.
*,.eeThe London-Zurich Agreement had many clauses that made it virtually impossible for it to work satisfactorily for all parties concerned. Under the constitution it is the Speaker of the House of Representatives that represents the President in his absence, and not the Vice-President (Dr. Kutchuk) who is the official Turkish Cypriot leader. Therefore this creates the impression among the Turkish comme nity that their leader cannot represent the President of the Republic.
"As it is stated in the Constitution, the House of Representatives must be composed of 35 Greek and 15 Turkish members. All legislation concerning taxation or duties, and for all municipalities and elections a separate majority of the Greek and Turkish members of the House of Representatives is required. For example, if 35 Greek members and 7 Turkish members vote, for a Bill, which means 42 Members of the House, and 8 Turkish members vote against it, the Bill is rejected. It is obvious that this provision prevents the passing of vital legislation (as it has already in preventing the passing of Income Tax legislatian) in Cypruse The Constitution further provides that 70% of the Civil Services are composed of Greek Cypriots and 30% Turkish. This same ratio applies to the Security Forces. The Army, however, consists of 60% Greek and 40% Turks.
"As the population is 81.14% Groek-speaking and 18.86% Turkish, these proportions do not correspond to the composition of the populations. Furthor, it does not make for the efficiency required in these departments when a certain number of each community has to be taken, whether competent or not. For example, if a position becomes vacant in the Civil Service and 2 applications are made, 1 Greek and the other Turkish, having lived in the same village or town they know each other's qualifications,one is much more suitable for the vacancy than the other, but cannot be accepted - the ratio for his particular community is up to full percentage. This sort of situation must and has,caused bitterness between the peoplese.
"The Treaty of Guarantee and Alliance on the other hand ..has been used as a threat and intervention from powers in the internal affairs of Cyprus. All this, far from helping to unitothe Greek and Turkish people in Cyprus to live together peacefully as they have © done for years, has been food for the old imperialist slogan "Divide and Rule."