Die Interessenpolitik Zyperns mit Ausrichtung auf die beiden deutschen Staaten (1960 - 1972)

During the Cold War, Cyprus was repeatedly in the focus of the interests of the two major military blocs. Within these ideological disputes, the German question played a particular role. Makarios’ decision to follow a course of non-alignment through the island’s foreign policy meant that the two German states tried to influence the government of Cyprus for their own interests. When Cyprus allowed the German Democratic Republic (GDR) in 1964 to establish a trade representation in Nicosia the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) feared that East Germany might be officially recognised by the Republic of Cyprus. From this moment on the German class struggle reached Cyprus. In the period from 1964 to 1972, the political and economic relations of these three countries were influenced by the tense conflict between the two German states.