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| 1974, July 20 |
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| INVASION OF CYPRUS (See July 20). A coup in Cyprus brought a right-wing government to power. The regime's avowed intention to unite with Greece and massacres of Turkish-speaking Cypriots provoked a Turkish invasion of the northern part of the island. The Turks refused to withdraw until they had secured full autonomy for the Turkish minority and recognition of the Turkish Federated State of Cyprus. | 1 |
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| 1977–78 |
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| Thawing of Turkish-Soviet relations. In 1977, the government of Bülent Ecevit certified that the USSR was no longer a threat to Turkey. A treaty of friendship was signed the next year. | 2 |
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| 1980, Sept. 12 |
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| ARMY COUP, in which leading politicians were arrested. Martial law was declared throughout the country (Sept. 18), and Parliament was dismissed. The provisional government under Bülent Ulusu sent security squads after political extremists of the Left and the Right to eliminate terrorism and restore political order. In 1981, all existing political parties (including the RPP) were banned. | 3 |
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| 1981, Dec. 7 |
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| The Ministry of Education banned the wearing of headscarves by female students and teachers. The law, which generated considerable controversy on campuses and in the courts, was finally repealed in Dec. 1989. | 4 |
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| 1982, April 24 |
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| The 1936 Montreux Convention, originally providing for unrestricted international access to the Straits in peacetime, was amended to allow Turkey to close them at its discretion. | 5 |
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| Nov. 7 |
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| Approval of a new constitution. Turkey reverted to a unicameral legislature, but this time under a strong presidential system. The president was given the authority to appoint the prime minister and all upper-echelon judges, to dissolve Parliament, and to declare a state of emergency. To avoid the paralysis of coalition politics that had afflicted Turkey over the preceding 30 years, parties were required to win at least 10 percent of the vote to qualify for seats in the Parliament. Kenan Evren, commander of the armed forces, assumed office as president. | 6 |
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