Editing Cyprus problem (section)

===Crisis of 1963–1964===
{{Main|Cyprus crisis of 1963–64}}
Repeated attempts to solve the disputes failed. Eventually, on 30 November 1963, [[Makarios III|Makarios]] put forward to the three guarantors a [[13 Amendments proposed by Makarios III|thirteen-point proposal]] designed, in his view, to eliminate impediments to the functioning of the government. The [[13 Amendments proposed by Makarios III|thirteen points]] involved constitutional revisions, including the abandonment of the veto power by both the president and the vice-president. Turkey initially rejected it (although later in future discussed the proposal). A few days later, on [[Bloody Christmas (1963)|Bloody Christmas]], 21 December 1963, fighting erupted between the communities in [[Nicosia]]. In the days that followed it spread across the rest of the island, resulting in the death of 364 Turkish Cypriots and 174 Greek Cypriots, and the forced displacement of 25,000 Turkish Cypriots. At the same time, the power-sharing government collapsed. How this happened is one of the most contentious issues in modern Cypriot history. The Greek Cypriots argue that the Turkish Cypriots withdrew to form their own administration. The Turkish Cypriots maintain that they were forced out. Many Turkish Cypriots chose to withdraw from the government. However, in many cases those who wished to stay in their jobs were prevented from doing so by the Greek Cypriots. Also, many of the Turkish Cypriots refused to attend because they feared for their lives after the recent violence that had erupted. There was even some pressure from the [[Turkish Resistance Organisation|TMT]] as well. In any event, in the days that followed the fighting a frantic effort was made to calm tensions. In the end, on 27 December 1963, an interim peacekeeping force, the Joint Truce Force, was put together by Britain, Greece and Turkey. After the partnership government collapsed, the Greek Cypriot led administration was recognised as the legitimate government of the Republic of Cyprus at the stage of the debates in New York in February 1964.<ref>[http://cyprus-mail.com/2014/03/09/unficyp-a-living-fossil-of-the-cold-war "UNFICYP: a living fossil of the Cold War"]. ''Cyprus-Mail'', 9 March 2014</ref> The Joint Truce Force held the line until a [[United Nations peacekeeping]] force, [[United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus|UNFICYP]], was formed following [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 186]], passed on 4 March 1964.