Editing Cyprus problem (section)

==1974 Greek coup d'etat and Turkish invasion==
{{Unreferenced section|date=March 2021}}
{{Main|1974 Cypriot coup d'état|Turkish invasion of Cyprus|Military operations during the Invasion of Cyprus (1974)}}

The intercommunal strife was partly overshadowed by the division of the Greeks between the pro-independence Makarios, and the [[enosis]]t National Front supported by the military junta of Greece. Grivas returned in 1971 and founded the [[EOKA-B]], a militant enosist group, to oppose Makarios. Greece demanded Cyprus submit to its influence and the dismissal of the Cypriot foreign minister. Makarios survived an assassination attempt and retained enough popular support to remain in power. Enosist pressure continued to mount; although Grivas died suddenly in January 1974, a new junta had formed in Greece in September 1973.

In July 1974, the [[Cypriot National Guard]] launched a [[1974 Cypriot coup d'état|coup d'état]] that installed the pro-enosis [[Nikos Sampson]] as president. Makarios fled the country with British help. Faced with Greek control of the island, Turkey demanded that Greece dismiss Sampson, withdraw its armed forces, and respect Cyprus' independence; Greece refused. From the United States, envoy Joseph Sisco could not persuade Greece to accept Ecevit's Cyprus settlement which included Turkish-Cypriot control of a coastal region in the north and negotiations for a federal solution. The Soviet Union did not support enosis as it would strengthen NATO and weaken the left in Cyprus.

The Turkish invasion was driven by the assertive foreign policy of [[Bülent Ecevit]], its prime minister, who was supported by his coalition partner [[Necmettin Erbakan]]. Turkey decided upon unilateral action after an invitation for joint action, made under the Treaty of Guarantee, was declined by Britain. On 20 July, Turkey [[Turkish invasion of Cyprus|invaded Cyprus]] with limited forces. The invasion achieved limited initial success, resulting in Greek forces occupying Turkish-Cypriot enclaves across the island. Within two days, Turkey secured a narrow corridor linking the northern coast with Nicosia, and on 23 July agreed to a cease-fire after securing a satisfactory bridgehead.

In Greece, the Turkish invasion caused political turmoil. On 23 July, the military junta collapsed and was replaced by [[Konstantinos Karamanlis]]'s civilian government. On Cyprus the same day, Sampson was replaced by Acting President [[Glafcos Clerides]] in the absence of Makarios.

Formal peace talks convened two days later in [[Geneva]], Switzerland, between Greece, Turkey and Britain. During the next five days, Turkey agreed to halt its advance on the condition that it would remain on the island until a political settlement was reached. Meanwhile, Turkish forces continued to advance as Greek forces occupied more Turkish-Cypriot enclaves. A new cease-fire line was agreed. On 30 July, the powers declared that the withdrawal of Turkish forces should be linked to a "just and lasting settlement acceptable to all parties concerned", with mentions of "two autonomous administrations – that of Greek-Cypriot community and that of the Turkish-Cypriot community".

Another round of talks was held on 8 August, this time including Cypriot representatives. Turkish Cypriots, supported by Turkey, demanded geographical separation from the Greek Cypriots; it was rejected by Makarios, who was committed to a unitary state. Deadlock ensued. On 14 August, Turkey demanded that Greece accept a Cypriot [[federation|federal state]], which would have resulted in the Turkish Cypriots - making up 18% of the population and 10% of land ownership – receiving 34% of the island. The talks ended when Turkey refused Clerides' request for 36 to 48 hours to consult the Cypriot and Greek governments. Within hours, Turkey launched a second offensive.{{citation needed|date=March 2021}} Turkey controlled 36%<ref name="mem"/> of the island by the time of the last ceasefire on 16 August 1974. The area between the combatants became a [[United Nations]]-administered [[United Nations Buffer Zone in Cyprus|buffer zone]], or "green line".<ref>{{cite web |title=About the Buffer Zone |url=https://unficyp.unmissions.org/about-buffer-zone |website=United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus |date=20 November 2015 |access-date=30 March 2021}}</ref>

The Greek coup and Turkish invasion resulted in thousands of Cypriot casualties.{{citation needed|date=March 2021}} The Government of Cyprus reported providing for 200,000 refugees.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://countrystudies.us/cyprus/32.htm |title=Cyprus – Refugees and Social Reconstruction |publisher=Countrystudies.us |access-date=22 March 2009}}</ref> 160,000<ref name="mem">{{cite web |author=Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus |url=http://www02.mfa.gov.cy/mfa/mfa.nsf/FEB4D72828085695C2256FD50031BF1E/$FILE/MEMOResponse10.3.05.doc |title=Memorandum by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus regarding the Foreign Affairs Committee of the United Kingdom Parliament Report on Cyprus |date=22 February 2005 |access-date=18 October 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070614123038/http://www.mfa.gov.cy/mfa/mfa.nsf/FEB4D72828085695C2256FD50031BF1E/$FILE/MEMOResponse10.3.05.doc |archive-date=14 June 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Greek Cypriots living in the Turkish-occupied northern region fled before Turkish forces or were evicted{{citation needed|date=April 2023}}; they had made up 82% of the region's population. The United Nations approved the voluntary resettlement of the remaining 51,000 Turkish Cypriots in the south in the northern area; many had fled to the British areas and awaited permission to migrate to the Turkish-controlled area.