On 18 November 1983 the UNSC adopted resolution 541 in which it considered the declaration of the TRNC to be legally invalid and deplored, what it called, the “purported secession”. The Turkish side strongly criticised the UNSC for only looking at the actions of the Turkish side without paying attention to the conduct of the Greek side, in particular its disregard of the terms of the Cyprus Constitution. On 11 May 1984 the UNSC adapted resolution 550 declaring the exchange of ambassadors between the TRNC and Türkiye as illegal. Following talks initiated by the UNSG led to the emergence of the UN “Set of Ideas”. On 12 March 1990 the UNSC took resolution 649 in which it called on the two sides to cooperate, on an equal footing, with the UNSG to reach a bi-communal and bi-zonal federal settlement. Despite this GCs unilaterally submitted an application to join the European Economic Community (EEC) on behalf of the whole island. The Set of Ideas foresaw membership in the EEC following a settlement. This poisoned the atmosphere and attracted strong criticism from the TC side. On 28 February 1993 Vassiliou lost the presidential election and the winner was Clerides who had run on a ticket of rejecting the “Set of Ideas”.