The Zurich treaty gave independence to Cyprus, while protecting the rights of the Turkish Cypriot population. The guarantors of this treaty were Great Britain, Greece and Turkey.

The president was to belong to the Greek and the vice president of the Turkish community, each with veto power. In the government and in the civil service, the communities were represented in the ratio between 70% and 30%, while in the police and the army the ratio was from 60% to 40%. Failure to agree on the structure of the army led Makarios, the first president of Cyprus, to declare that Cyprus would not have armed forces. This led to the formation of private armies, clandestinely supplied by Greece and Turkey.

In legislative matters, separate majorities were needed from the Greek and Turkish members of the Cyprus House of Representatives. The main cities had separate municipalities, and in the courts, the defendants were tried by members of their community.

This complicated system proved unworkable in practice because of the suspicions inherent in the two communities. However, a direct democracy, or majority rule, was not applicable to Cyprus as it would have meant that the Turkish community had no say in the government, and would almost certainly have led to a declaration of union (enosis) with Greece.

In 1963 relations between the two communities, separated by language, culture and religion, had deteriorated. Thirteen articles of the Constitution were attempted to change in favour of the Greek Cypriot community, also disarming the Turkish Cypriot police and establishing the Greek Cypriot National Guard. These measures were in clear violation of the Zurich treaty. The civil war had started and the United Nations sent troops in an attempt to restore peace, creating the Green Line, which has effectively divided the communities.

Things went on, on Christmas Eve of 1963, when the armed Greek Cypriots attacked a suburb of Nicosia, killing or capturing some Turkish Cypriot inhabitants. Armed conflict spread, with Turkish Cypriots retreating to the enclaves to defend themselves. In the spring of 1964, some 20,000 Greek soldiers from the continent illegally entered the island.

A buffer zone was established and manned by British troops in a largely unsuccessful attempt to stop the fighting. These were later replaced by United Nations troops in March 1964.

On January 1, 1964, Makarios announced the repeal of the treaties signed in London, with the intention of establishing self-determination for the Cypriots, who, being the Greeks in the majority, would almost certainly have led to a proclamation of enosis. Under pressure from Britain and Turkey, Makarios repealed its announcement.

In the spring of 1964, the "Acheson Plan" provided another opportunity to resolve the long-standing dispute. Cyprus would be ceded to Greece. In return, the Greek island of Kastellorizon, just 3 miles off the Southern coast of Turkey, would have been transferred to Turkey. Turkey would also have a sovereign base area in Cyprus, covering most of Karpaz. This would be Turkey's property perpetually, just like the British SBAs are found in the South of the island. Turkish Cypriots would also be allowed to have different parts of the island, totally administered by themselves.

Although this plan was supported by Greece and Turkey, Makarios vetoed it.

A modified plan would have seen the renting of a much smaller area of ​​Karpaz to Turkey for 50 years. Furthermore, there would be no self-managed areas for Turkish Cypriots. This plan was rejected by Turkey, and so, once again, the possibility of an agreement was lost.

In August 1964, well-armed Hellenic forces attempted to annihilate the Turks in Erenkoy (Kokkina) on the North coast in order to stop the flow of ammunition from the Turkish mainland. They would undoubtedly have succeeded if the Turkish air force had not intervened. This act added a new dimension to the conflict. The fear of Turkish intervention has somewhat stirred the Greeks, and they have settled until the systematic economic blockade of Turkish enclaves. This situation led to a partition, mainly because the Turks were no longer able to participate in government or civil service.

A further armed conflict in 1967 prompted Turkey to threaten military intervention, but with the acquisition by colonels in Greece and the economic boom in Cyprus, the concept of enosis became less attractive.