importantly, each was empowered to veto iu whole or in part any l,aw concerning foreign affairs, defense or security. Article 50. The Council of Ministers, the Ilouse of Representatives, the judiciary, the military and th6 civil service were likewise divitteat between the two corununities in agreed proportions, "independent ofA/44/967 S/21420 English Page4 TheConstitution ofCyprus. whichentered intoforceonthesamedayasthe threetreaties" wastheproduct oftwopriorinternational agreements. The"Basic ArticlesltoftheConstitution werefirstsetoutintheZurich Agreement of 11February 1959.between Greece andTurkey. TheseBasicArticles. whichwillbe discussed below.largely determined thestructure oftheGovernment oftheRepublic ofCyprus. including theprecise mannerinwhichpowerwouldbeshared bytheGreek Cypriot andTurkish Cypriot communities. Representatives oftheGreekCypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities initialled theAgreement. IntheAgreed Measures to Prepare fortheNewArrangements inCyprus. of19February 1959.Greece. Turkey and Britain agreedthataJointConstitutional Commission composed ofrepresentatives oftheGreekCypriot andTurkish Cypriot peoples. Greece andTurkey woulddrawupa finalConstitution incorporating theBasicArticles. TheConstitution thusdeveloped effectively incorporated allofthese international agreements. Article 181oftheConstitution declares thatthe Treaties ofGuarantee andAlliance "shall haveconstitutional force." Article 182 oftheConstitution provides thattheBasicArticles. derived fromtheZurich Agreement, "cannot, inanyway,beamended, whether bywayofvariation, addition orrepeal." Article 185statesthat"theterritory oftheRepublic isoneand indivisible" andthattotalorpartial unionwithanyotherStateorseparatist independence isexcluded. Theinternational agreements bymeansofwhichtheRepublic ofCyprus was established asasovereign stateandunderwhichthestructure ofitsgovernment wasdetermined, aswellastheConstitution resulting fromthem,recognized as binding amongtheparties theequalstatusoftheGreekCypriot andTurkish Cypriot communities, andtheirequalrights toaneffective roleinthegovernment oftheir island andindetermining theirpolitical futures. Attheoutsetofthe negotiations leading totheindependence ofCyprus. theBritish Colonial Secretary, Mr.Lennox-Boyd. declared: "itwillbethepurpose ofHerMajesty's Government to ensure thatanyexercise ofself-determination should beeffected insuchamanner thattheTurkish Cypriot community. nolessthantheGreekCypriot community. shall,inthespecial circumstances ofCyprus. begivenfreedom todecidefor themselves theirfuturestatus." 11Therefore. inallofthesedocuments rightsto determine theirpolitical future wererecognized inboththeGreekCypriot community andtheTurkish Cypriot community. andtheyinturnpledged toexercise thoserightsjointly tocreate asinglestategoverning alltheterritory and peoples ofCyprus. TheBasicArticles oftheConstitution werecarefully drafted toperpetuate boththerecognized equality ofthetwocommunities andtheirobligation toshare theattributes ofsovereignty. Theveryfirstarticle provided thatthePresident oftheRepublic wouldbeaGreekCypriot andtheVice-President wouldbeaTurkish Cypriot. Theseofficials weretobeelected simultaneously butseparately by majority votesoftheirrespective communities. Unlike mostpresidents and vice-presidents Ithesetwoofficers shared mostessential executive powers. Most importantlYI eachwasempowered tovetoinwholeorinpartanylawconcerning foreign affairs. defense orsecurity. Article 50.TheCouncil ofMinisters. the HouseofRepresentatives lthejudiciarYI themilitary andthecivilservice were likewise divided between thetwocommunities inagreedproportions. "independent of I ...
**Analysis**
The text appears to be discussing the constitutional framework of Cyprus, specifically the power sharing arrangement between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities. The text highlights the importance of equal representation and participation in government, as well as the division of powers and institutions between the two communities. This suggests that the text is more focused on governance and political arrangements rather than economic or social issues.

**Category**
Politics, Government