The Cyprus Question| A brief Introduction 9 Introduction Cyprus became an independent sovereign state in August 1960. Unfortunately, since the invasion and continuing military occupation by Turkey in 1974, the island republic remains forcibly divided. The dire consequences of this invasion, occupation and forcible division along ethnic lines have been systematic violations of human rights, massive colonisation and ethnic cleansing of areas under occupation, militarisation, property usurpation and the destruction of cultural heritage. The Cyprus question remains unresolved, an affront to the international legal order, and a threat to regional stability. Turkey’s actions have been condemned by unanimous UN Security Council resolutions, UN General Assembly resolutions1, international court decisions, and decisions by other major international and regional organisations. Regrettably, most of these resolutions and decisions remain unimplemented. On 1 May 2004, the Republic of Cyprus joined the European Union without achieving the desired goal of accession as a unified country. The Government and people of Cyprus, however, remain committed to a viable settlement that would allow the genuine, peaceful, and secure reunification of their country, in conformity with European norms and international law. The President of the Republic, Mr Nikos Christodoulides, has repeatedly underlined that his top priority will be to restart substantial negotiations within the agreed framework for a solution, as determined by the resolutions of the Security Council of the United Nations, the High-Level Agreements, the European acquis and based on the convergences reached over the years. “Our aim”, he emphasises, “is none other than to reach a solution without occupying troops, foreign guarantees and invasive rights, a solution that will restore the unity of our homeland, of its territory, its people and its institutions within a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation where the human rights and safety of all citizens, without exception, will be enshrined and fully respected”. 1 See Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus, United Nations Security Council and General Assembly Resolutions on Cyprus 1960-2006 (Nicosia: Press and Information Office, Republic of Cyprus, 2006).
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