August 16 marks the 66th anniversary of Cyprus’s declaration of independence. After 82 years under British rule, the last British Governor of Cyprus, Hugh Foot, together with the First President of the Republic of Cyprus, Archbishop Makarios III, and the Vice President, Fazil Kuchuk, signed the Zurich-London Agreements, on the basis of which the Republic of Cyprus was proclaimed an independent and sovereign state.
The signing took place at an official ceremony in the House of Representatives at midnight on August 15–16, 1960. Prior to the signing, outgoing Governor Hugh Foot read the declaration proclaiming Cyprus an independent Republic. The Constitution came into effect on August 16, 1960. In September of that same year, the Republic of Cyprus became a member of the United Nations.
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Following the conclusion of the first session of the House of Representatives, during which the ceremony marking the establishment of the House took place and President Makarios and Vice President Koutsiouk declared their allegiance to the Republic, the flag of the Republic of Cyprus was raised. The previous day, at sunset, the British flag was lowered from the Government House (now the Presidential Palace) and from all public buildings.
According to the press at the time, President Makarios stated in his address, among other things, that Cyprus, as it joins the community of free nations, is determined to actively assume its responsibilities and work toward the prevalence of the principles and provisions of the United Nations Charter. He also called on everyone to join forces and work together for the prosperity and progress of the island.
According to the same sources, President Makarios received numerous messages of congratulations on Cyprus’s independence, including from UN Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld, Queen Elizabeth of England, U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower, the President of the United Arab Republic, Gamal Abdel Nasser, and by many other leaders from Europe, Africa, and Asia.
The celebration of the Republic of Cyprus’s independence on October 1 was decided on July 11, 1963, when the Council of Ministers designated that day as a public holiday to mark the anniversary.
Source: CNA
