1924- . Turkish-Cypriot politician. In 1975 
the Turkish Federated State of Cyprus (TFSC) 
was formed in the northern third of the 
island, with Denktash as its head, and in 
1983 he became president of the breakaway 
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). 
Denktash held law-officer posts under the 
British crown before independence in 1960. 
Relations between the Greek and Turkish 
communities progressively deteriorated, 
leading to the formation of the TFSC. In 1983 
the TRNC, with Denktash as its president, was 
formally constituted, but recognized 
internationally only by Turkey. The accession 
of the independent politician Georgios 
Vassilou to the Cyprus presidency offered 
hopes of reconciliation, but meetings between 
him and Denktash, under UN auspices, during 
1989 failed to produce an agreement.