Evening star., 1961-10-22
BY SEMIH USTUN
Contributing Writer


A little more than a year ago
the first Parliament in 5000 years
'of Cyprus history met in a newly
converted theater in NicoSia to
Jgive life to Europe's newest re-
public. Its job is far from fin
ished, but an independent Cyprus
is now a going concern.
Ironically enough, independence
was not the first choice of most
Cypriotes in the long and bitter
struggle of a few years ago.
The Greek Cypriotes Croughly
80 per cent of the islands pop
,ulation of 570,00O demanded en-
osis- union with Greece. The
Turkish minority resisted change
at first but later pressed for par
tition. The Greek and Turkish
Cypriotes were supported re-
spectively by the mother govern
ments in Athens and Ankara.
The British, for their part,
could see no abandonment of
their sovereignty over the island.
But the four years of violence
and bloodshed changed all that.
Each side finally settled for less
than its optimum demand and an
independent Cyprus was born.
The Elements of Clash
Here was a situation with all
the elements Of political free
for-all: A populace ethnically and
bitterly divided, a constitution
fundamentally precise" and
cumbersome, a former sovereign
with two sizable military bases
over which she maintained her
sovereignty. To make matters
worse, independence came to Cy-
prus at a time of severe economic
stagnation. Some observers could
see nothing but utter chaos for
the new republic.
Somehow this did not happen.
Cyprus, as a new nation, was
not without some advantages:
Her racial setup was compare
lively simple. She had no legacy of
disputed frontier problems. She
was endowed with a small but
competent administration. She
was not without financial re-
sources. And she had little need
for a large army, since her ma
tional independence was guaran-
teed by the three foster parents:
Great Britain, Greece and Tur-
key.
. Under this protective shield.
the Cypriote lawmakers (all with
out the slightest legislative expe-
. rience) began their work: The
. initial legislation creating the ma
.chinery of the new state had to
lbe passed within four months.
. The constitution had to be ap-
proved clause by clause, with each
speech and document being trans
lated from Greek to Turkish and
. vice versa.
. A Mountoin OF Lows
. Some of the innovations were
. curious: A Supreme Court with
. an Irish judge and a Constitu-
= tional Court presided over by a
. German judge!
q. BY sitting day and night the
weary lawmakers, most with out
side jobs, went through this
mountain of legislation before the
deadline. When they adjourned
on New Years eve. the first pre-
requisite of statehood was salts
fled.
In this legislative marathon,
political and racial lines were
blurred, old animosities buried
and sometimes replaced by new
ones.
Nearly all the bills needed and
got the support of the Turkish
Cypriotes. An important taxation
bill. dividing Turks and Greeks
almost equally. was saved by a
single Turkish vote.
The 7-3 ratio was observed in
the House of Representatives as in
all other aspects of administra-
tive life. OF the 35 Greek seats
80 are controlled by the pro-
Makarios Patriotic Front and 5
by the Communists, while all the
Is Turkish seats are held by the
supporters of the pro-Kutchuk Ma
tional Front.
President Makarios and Vice
President Fail Kutchuk each has
"the right Of veto" over the ac-
tions of the other. Fortunately
for the new republic. satisfac-
tory working relationship has de-
veloped between the two men.
They are now trying-without
much success-to create at least a
semblance Of cooperation be-
tween the two communities.
But the old suspicious remain.
There is little mixing between
the Greek and Turkish Cypriotes.
A great majority Of the people
still prefer a segregated existence.
The 7-3 rule in the distribution