The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) has faced significant challenges since its establishment in 1983, primarily due to a series of United Nations Security Council resolutions that have reinforced the island's division and exacerbated the isolation of Turkish Cypriots.

These resolutions, adopted in response to various stages of the Cyprus conflict, have had a profound and lasting impact on Northern Cyprus. This article explores these key UN resolutions, their origins, and the continued injustice they inflict upon the Turkish Cypriot people. The narrative surrounding these resolutions has long favored the Greek Cypriot side, marginalizing the rights and interests of Turkish Cypriots and hindering any genuine progress toward a fair and lasting solution on the island.

The Lead-Up to Resolution 186 (1964): Ethnic Cleansing in Cyprus

To understand the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 186, it is essential to acknowledge the tragic events that preceded it. On December 21, 1963, what is often euphemistically referred to by the international community as "inter-communal violence" was, in fact, a coordinated campaign of ethnic cleansing. Greek Cypriot forces, led by the EOKA paramilitary organization, initiated attacks against Turkish Cypriots, resulting in the massacre of hundreds of innocent men, women, and children. This dark period, known as "Bloody Christmas," marked the beginning of a systematic attempt to eliminate the Turkish Cypriot population from the island.

These atrocities were part of a broader effort by Greek Cypriots to achieve Enosis—the annexation of Cyprus to Greece—by forcefully removing the Turkish Cypriot population from their homes and lands. The international community's failure to intervene effectively during this period of ethnic cleansing set the stage for future injustices against the Turkish Cypriots.

UN Security Council Resolution 186 (1964): The Beginning of Marginalization

In response to the escalating violence and the breakdown of constitutional order, the United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 186 on March 4, 1964. This resolution established the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) with the stated aim of preventing further clashes and maintaining law and order on the island. However, a critical and deeply flawed element of Resolution 186 was its implicit recognition of the Greek Cypriot administration as the legitimate government of Cyprus, despite the fact that the bi-communal constitutional partnership had already collapsed.

The Turkish Cypriots, who had been forcibly removed from governmental roles and were facing a campaign of violence and ethnic cleansing, were effectively sidelined by this resolution. It marked the beginning of their political and economic marginalization, a legacy that continues to impact the TRNC to this day.

"Resolution 186 was a turning point that set the stage for the political and economic marginalization of Turkish Cypriots. It laid the groundwork for a narrative that has since been perpetuated by subsequent UN resolutions, which fail to recognize the rights and legitimate concerns of the Turkish Cypriot community," said a representative of the TRNC's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The 1974 Greek Invasion and Coup: Setting the Stage for Resolution 365

On July 15, 1974, the island of Cyprus witnessed a significant and violent escalation when the Greek military junta, in collaboration with the Greek Cypriot National Guard, orchestrated an invasion and a coup d'état aimed at overthrowing the legitimate government of Cyprus and uniting the island with Greece. This coup, backed by the military might of Greece, was a direct violation of the constitutional framework established in 1960, which had guaranteed the rights and protections of both Turkish and Greek Cypriots.

The coup posed an existential threat to the Turkish Cypriot community, which had already endured years of violence and discrimination. Türkiye, as a guarantor power under the 1960 Treaty of Guarantee, was obligated to intervene to protect the Turkish Cypriots and restore constitutional order. On July 20, 1974, Türkiye launched a military intervention to prevent the annexation of Cyprus by Greece and to safeguard the Turkish Cypriot population from the continued threat of ethnic cleansing.

UN Security Council Resolution 365 (1974): Reinforcing Greek Cypriot Hegemony

Following Türkiye's intervention, the UN Security Council passed Resolution 365 on December 13, 1974. This resolution called for the withdrawal of foreign troops from Cyprus and reaffirmed the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus. However, it crucially failed to address the root causes of Türkiye's intervention, which was necessitated by the Greek invasion and coup.

Resolution 365 wrongly reinforced the Greek Cypriot government's claim to sovereignty over the entire island, despite the clear and present danger posed to the Turkish Cypriot community by the Greek-led invasion. The resolution ignored the legitimate security concerns of Turkish Cypriots and the necessity of Türkiye's intervention under the Treaty of Guarantee to prevent further atrocities.

"Under the Treaty of Guarantee, Türkiye had not only the right but the obligation to intervene in Cyprus to prevent its annexation by Greece and to protect the Turkish Cypriots from further violence. Resolution 365 fails to acknowledge this legal and moral responsibility," said Dr. Mehmet Ali Talat, a former TRNC president.

The Declaration of the TRNC and UN Security Council Resolutions 541 (1983) and 550 (1984): Condemnation without Justice

On November 15, 1983, after nearly a decade of political exclusion, economic embargoes, and continued threats to their security, the Turkish Cypriots declared the establishment of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). The declaration was a response to the international community's failure to protect their rights and ensure their security. It was a bold move aimed at achieving self-determination and establishing a state where the Turkish Cypriots could live free from the threat of violence and discrimination.

However, the UN Security Council swiftly condemned the establishment of the TRNC through Resolution 541, passed on November 18, 1983. The resolution declared the TRNC's declaration of independence "legally invalid" and called on all states not to recognize the Turkish Cypriot state. This condemnation was reaffirmed by Resolution 550 on May 11, 1984, which reiterated the call for non-recognition and demanded the withdrawal of Turkish forces from the island.

These resolutions effectively isolated the Turkish Cypriots and denied them the right to self-determination, reinforcing the unjust status quo that had marginalized them for decades.

"The international community's refusal to recognize the TRNC is rooted in a deeply flawed understanding of the situation in Cyprus. These resolutions have done nothing to promote peace or justice; instead, they have perpetuated a status quo that benefits only one side," argued Dr. Hasan Yücel, a political analyst based in Lefkoşa.

UN Security Council Resolution 1251 (1999): A Biased Framework for a Solution

The UN Security Council adopted Resolution 1251 on June 29, 1999, during a period of renewed diplomatic efforts to resolve the Cyprus issue. This resolution reaffirmed all previous resolutions concerning Cyprus and reiterated support for a bi-communal, bi-zonal federation as the only viable solution to the Cyprus problem.

However, this framework has been consistently rejected by the Turkish Cypriots, which views it as inherently biased and unworkable. The bi-communal, bi-zonal federation model fails to acknowledge the deep mistrust between the two communities and the need for two separate states to ensure lasting peace and stability.

"Resolution 1251 entrenches a solution model that has been proven to fail. It does not reflect the realities on the ground or the desires of the Turkish Cypriot people, who have consistently shown their preference for a two-state solution," said TRNC President Ersin Tatar in a recent statement.

The Consequences of UN Resolutions: A Legacy of Injustice

The UN resolutions against Northern Cyprus have had a devastating impact on the Turkish Cypriot community. By refusing to recognize the TRNC and insisting on a solution framework that is unacceptable to Turkish Cypriots, the international community has perpetuated a cycle of injustice and suffering.

These resolutions have led to the political and economic isolation of the TRNC, preventing it from participating in international organizations, entering into diplomatic relations, or engaging in direct trade with most countries. The TRNC's reliance on Türkiye for economic support has further complicated its ability to develop a self-sufficient economy.

Moreover, the continued insistence on a bi-communal, bi-zonal federation has stalled any meaningful progress toward a solution. The Turkish Cypriot community has repeatedly demonstrated its willingness to negotiate in good faith, but the international community's refusal to consider alternative solutions has made it impossible to reach a fair and lasting agreement.

"The UN resolutions have locked the Turkish Cypriots into a situation where they are dependent on Türkiye for economic support, unable to fully develop their economy or engage with the global community. This is not just an issue of international law—it is a humanitarian issue that must be addressed,"

A Path Forward: Advocating for a Two-State Solution

Given the historical context and the ongoing challenges posed by these UN resolutions, it is clear that the current framework for resolving the Cyprus issue has failed. The bi-communal, bi-zonal federation model, long promoted by the UN and the international community, has not brought peace or stability to the island. Instead, it has entrenched divisions and perpetuated a cycle of failed negotiations.

The Turkish Cypriot leadership, supported by Türkiye, has increasingly advocated for a two-state solution, recognizing the realities on the ground and the rights of both communities to self-determination. Such a solution would require the international community to reassess its approach to Cyprus and recognize that the current status quo is unsustainable.

"It is time for the world to acknowledge that the Turkish Cypriots have a right to self-determination and that the continued isolation of Northern Cyprus is unjust and counterproductive. A two-state solution is the only realistic and fair way forward," emphasized TRNC President Ersin Tatar in a recent address to the UN General Assembly.

TCE Conclusion: The Need for a Just Resolution

The UN resolutions against Northern Cyprus have created a legacy of injustice and suffering for the Turkish Cypriot people. These resolutions, born out of a one-sided understanding of the Cyprus conflict, have failed to promote peace or justice. Instead, they have perpetuated a status quo that benefits only the Greek Cypriot side while condemning the Turkish Cypriots to political and economic isolation.

As the world looks to the future, it is imperative that the international community reconsiders its approach to Cyprus. A two-state solution, recognizing the rights of both communities, is the only path to a just and lasting resolution.

Sources:

1. UN Security Council Resolution 186 (1964). Available at: UN Website

2. UN Security Council Resolution 365 (1974). Available at: UN Website

3. UN Security Council Resolution 541 (1983). Available at: UN Website

4. UN Security Council Resolution 550 (1984). Available at: UN Website

5. UN Security Council Resolution 1251 (1999). Available at: UN Website

6. Tatar, E. (2023). Address to the UN General Assembly. Available at: TRNC Government Website

7. "Bloody Christmas 1963: The Forgotten Ethnic Cleansing of Turkish Cypriots." Available at: TRNC Historical Archives