On 21 December 1963, Greek Cypriot control of a Turkish Cypriot car ended in a fight with two Turkish Cypriots killed. This was preceded by the rejection of the “13 points” of Makarios, on the basis of which amendments were made to the Constitution. The tension already created by this proposal of the archbishop, as well as the skirmish on 21 December, put both communities on their guard, and the clashes soon escalated.

On December 27, the front page of Kathimerini read: “Absolute calm reigns throughout Cyprus – British units will monitor the ceasefire.” And he continues: “During the night telegrams from Nicosia, calm reigns throughout Cyprus, after an agreement on entrusting peacekeeping efforts to the island to the British troops in cooperation with the Greek and Turkish units. British armored vehicles have already been ordered to take up positions between the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots, and patrols of British soldiers will take over the maintenance of order on the streets of the city.

Two days later, on December 29, the newspaper’s front-page image is very different: “The situation in Cyprus is very tense” – the dominant headline. “Yesterday’s information from Nicosia indicates that the situation is still very tense. Turkish warships were seen on the second day at a distance of 10 miles from the northern coast of the island, while the Turkish Cypriots set up machine guns and roadblocks in their quarters, and parts of the Turkish Cypriot forces took up combat positions in the area of ​​the suburb of Trachon. However, there have been no new clashes and British troops are patrolling the streets of Nicosia.”

Finally, on December 30, a ceasefire agreement is signed, ending the conflicts that have gone down in history as Bloody Christmas. With the mediation of the UK, a Green Line is being drawn, dividing the two communities. After this de facto geographical division, the Turkish Cypriot leaders now spoke openly about dividing the island.