Editing Cyprus problem (section)

===Turkish Cypriots' declaration of independence===
{{Politics of Northern Cyprus}}
In May 1983, an effort by [[Javier Pérez de Cuéllar]], then UN Secretary-General, foundered after the [[United Nations General Assembly]] passed a resolution calling for the withdrawal of all occupation forces from Cyprus. The Turkish Cypriots were furious at the resolution, threatening to declare independence in retaliation. Despite this, in August, Pérez de Cuéllar gave the two sides a set of proposals for consideration that called for a rotating presidency, the establishment of a bicameral assembly along the same lines as previously suggested, and 60:40 representation in the central executive. In return for increased representation in the central government, the Turkish Cypriots would surrender 8–13 per cent of the land in their possession. Both Kyprianou and Denktaş accepted the proposals. However, on 15 November 1983, the Turkish Cypriots took advantage of the post-election political instability in Turkey and [[Declaration of Independence of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus|unilaterally declared independence]]. Within days the [[Security Council]] passed a resolution, no.541 (13–1 vote: only [[Pakistan]] opposed) making it clear that it would not accept the new state and that the decision disrupted efforts to reach a settlement. Denktaş denied this. In a letter informing the Secretary-General of the decision, he insisted that the move guaranteed that any future settlement would be truly federal in nature. Although the 'Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus' (TRNC) was soon recognised by [[Turkey]], the rest of the international community condemned the move. The [[Security Council]] passed another resolution, no.550<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.un.int/cyprus/scr550.htm |title=Security Council resolution 220 (1966) on Cyprus |access-date=14 February 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120506115414/http://www.un.int/cyprus/scr550.htm |archive-date=6 May 2012  }}</ref> (13–1 vote: again only [[Pakistan]] opposed) condemning the "purported exchange of ambassadors between Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot leadership".

In September 1984, talks resumed. After three rounds of discussions it was again agreed that Cyprus would become a bi-zonal, bi-communal, non-aligned federation. The Turkish Cypriots would retain 29 per cent for their federal state and all foreign troops would leave the island. In January 1985, the two leaders met for their first face-to-face talks since the 1979 agreement. However, while the general belief was that the meeting was being held to agree to a final settlement, Kyprianou insisted that it was a chance for further negotiations. The talks collapsed. In the aftermath, the Greek Cypriot leaders came in for heavy criticism, both at home and abroad. After that Denktaş announced that he would not make so many concessions again. Undeterred, in March 1986, de Cuéllar presented the two sides with a Draft Framework Agreement {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050418195546/http://www.cyprus-conflict.net/draft%20agreement%201986.htm |date=18 April 2005 }}. Again, the plan envisaged the creation of an independent, non-aligned, bi-communal, bi-zonal state in Cyprus. However, the Greek Cypriots were unhappy with the proposals. They argued that the questions of removing Turkish forces from Cyprus was not addressed, nor was the repatriation of the increasing number of Turkish settlers on the island. Moreover, there were no guarantees that the full three freedoms would be respected. Finally, they saw the proposed state structure as being confederal in nature. Further efforts to produce an agreement failed as the two sides remained steadfastly attached to their positions.