The New State of Affairs: the United Republic of Cyprus and the constituent states

THE enforcement of the Foundation Agreement will bring into existence a new state of affairs with the United Republic of Cyprus, which will be an independent state, member of the United Nations with a single international legal personality and sovereignty.

It will be bi-zonal and authority in its domain will be applied by a federal government and two equal constituent states with determined territorial boundaries.

The relationship between the United Republic of Cyprus and the constituent states is binding and determines the level of autonomy of the constituent states.

The constitution of the United Republic of Cyprus, which will be adopted with the agreement of Greek and Turkish Cypriots though separate referenda, will be the supreme law.

It will bind the authorities of the federal government and the constituent states and can only be changed with the approval of the federal parliament and the electorate of both constituent states through separate referenda.

The constituent states will have their own constitution, which will be compatible with the constitution of the United Republic of Cyprus. The Supreme Court will ensure full respect of the constitution by all parties in the federation.

At a symbolic level, the binding relationship between the constituent states and the United Republic of Cyprus is determined by the provisions of the constitution concerning the raising of flags in federal buildings and government and public buildings in the constituent states.

Only the flag of the United Republic of Cyprus would be raised in federal buildings, together with the European Union flag.

The flag of the United Republic of Cyprus will be raised in the constituent states’ government and public buildings, along with the flag of the respective constituent state. No other flag, apart from the EU flag, can be hoisted on these buildings.

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The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.