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The independence of Cyprus came with agreements aimed at protecting the rights of the Turkish minority and prohibiting any moves towards unification with Greece or partitioning the island. Unfortunately, the dynamics between the Greek and Turkish populations grew tense, with Greek President Archbishop Makarios advocating for what many Turkish Cypriots viewed as overrepresentation.
This delicate balance was shattered in 1974 when Greeks, dissatisfied with Makarios's leadership, conducted a coup supported by a military junta in Greece. After the coup, Nicos Sampson took control and set sights on unifying Cyprus with Greece. Turkish officials, alarmed by the escalating violence faced by Turkish Cypriots, sought international intervention.