On February 12, 1977, Archbishop Makarios and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash signed the so-called High Level Agreement in front of UN Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim. Goal, independent, non-aligned, bi-communal federal democracy.

In addition, the agreement discussed, among other key issues, respect for freedom of movement and residence, as well as the right to property.

“Optimistic about the Cyprus issue, but also cautious – negotiations are expected to be long and difficult,” writes Kathimerini on its front page on 15 February.

“The optimism about the start of new negotiations on the Cyprus issue, as well as the caution expressed by the forecast that the negotiations will be long and difficult, are connected with the results of the second meeting of the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Makarios, with the Turkish Cypriot. leader Mr. Rauf Denktas. The optimism stems mainly from the conclusion of the UN Secretary-General, Dr. Waldheim, that “a real solution to the Cyprus problem has been reached, since both sides now have a basis for negotiating.” The reluctance stems from the fact that the principles that President Makarios and Mr. Denktas have agreed on as the basis for negotiations are considered quite general and at some points may be controversial,” he explains below. After the negotiations, Makarios tells reporters that “our the main objective [είναι] finding common ground for the resumption of intercommunal negotiations. I can say that common ground has indeed been found, but this is not enough to fully guarantee the success of the talks in a short time. The path to the goal, that is, to the final agreement, is probably long.”

However, the Cathimerini comments on this: “We will only say that situations and aspirations change only when necessary dictates, or as a result of a change either in the balance of forces or in the considerations that dictated the old scheme. We do not know whether or to what extent these defining events exist from now on.”

Very soon the Turkish Cypriot side was going to withdraw from this agreement.