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| 1960, Aug. 16 |
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| FORMAL INDEPENDENCE FOR CYPRUS, which became a republic. | 1 |
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| 1963, Dec. 21 |
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| Armed clashes between Greek and Turkish Cypriots followed an attempt by Greek Cypriots to amend the constitution. Ethnic Turks stopped participating in the Cypriot government. | 2 |
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| 1964, March 14 |
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| Arrival of a UN peacekeeping force. Despite the international presence, sporadic battles between ethnic Greeks and Turks continued until mid-August. | 3 |
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| 1967, Nov |
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| Communal fighting led to escalating tensions between Turkey and Greece, whose armies were supplying, training, and sometimes joining the Cypriot combatants. After Turkey threatened to go to war (Nov. 14), the Greek government recalled EOKA leader Gen. Grivas and began withdrawing its 20,000 troops (Dec. 8). | 4 |
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| 1968, Feb. 25 |
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| Reelection of Pres. Makarios. The Cypriot government lifted all economic sanctions against the Turkish minority and removed roadblocks to the northern part of the island. Yet, in effect, the island remained partitioned. | 5 |
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| 1974, Jan. 27 |
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| Death by heart attack of Gen. George Grivas, the leading advocate of Enosis. | 6 |
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| June 10 |
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| Fearing a revolt by radical Greek Cypriots, Makarios requested that Greece reduce the number of its officers in the National Guard from 650 to 50. Simultaneously, Makarios opened a campaign to stamp out EOKA. | 7 |
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| July 15 |
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| A MILITARY COUP, led by Greek officers in the National Guard, ousted Pres. Makarios. Nicos Samson, a former EOKA leader, became the new president. | 8 |
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| July 20 |
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| THE TURKISH INVASION (See 1974, July 23) (See 1974, July 20). Turkish troops rapidly occupied the northern portion of the island, where ethnic Turks predominated. The invaders eventually extended their control over 37 percent of the island's territory. In the aftermath of the landing, some 180,000 Greek Cypriot refugees fled southward from the Turkish-held region. Approximately 27,000 Turkish troops remained behind to protect Cyprus's 115,000 ethnic Turks and maintain their separate status. | 9 |
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| Dec. 7 |
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| Upon his return to Cyprus, Makarios rejected all proposals to partition the island permanently. | 10 |
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