Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus •I••. Digitized by Dag Hammarskjöld Library^/44/967s/2!420 English Page 3 APPENDIX Opinion dated 20 Jufv 1990 on the leqal status ip iaternationallatr of the Turkish Cypriot and the Greek Cl?riot coffnunities in Cl?rus prepared by Mr. Monroe Leiah I have beea asked. to give an opinion on the status in international 1aw of therurkish cypriot aad Greek ct?riot conununities in cyPrus. Negotiatioas concernirgthe relatioD.strip between the two communities in cyprus lrave for sone time beeataking place uad€r the auspices of the secr€tary-General of the united Nations.Af,ter a revien of the historicat and regar situation of cyprus, it is my opinionthat the creek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot r6gimes participating in thesenegotiations, and the respective comnunities which they represeat, are preseDtlyentitled to exercise equal rights under internatlonar la!d, inctuding rights ofsel f-deternination. Before collsidering in iletail the legal posirion of the Greek and Turkishc]rlrriots, r wish to nake an important point about tny uso of terminorogy ir thisoPinion. r understard that th6re has been rnuch discussior between Mr. Denktas,Presideat of the Turkisb Republic of Northern cr4rus, Mr. vassl.l.iou, presidelt ofthe (Great) Repubric of cyprus, ald th€ sec retary-cenerar. of the u!.ited Nations,Mr. P6rez tle Cu6l1ar, about how to refer to the creek Cpriots and tbe lurkishC!?riots, botb tlurlng the course of their aegotiations and also in the uewpolitical order which it is their aim to establ.ish in Cyprus. In rny oplaion,wh€ther the6e ertiti.es ar€ referred to as communities, peopr.es, constiiuentpart!.es, r6gimes, or by any other tern, has no d,eterrninative or conclusive effecto! their pr€selt interaational legal status.
**Analysis**
The text appears to be a legal opinion on the status of the Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot communities in Cyprus, discussing their rights under international law. The content focuses on the legal framework and international relations, with no mention of economic, environmental, or social issues. This suggests that the text is more concerned with the political and diplomatic aspects of the situation.

**Category**
International relations, Education