Turkish invasion of Cyprus - Revision history

Irlandos: /* Missing persons */

2009-07-08T12:22:00Z

Missing persons

Irlandos: /* The Turkish invasions of Cyprus of July and August 1974 */

2009-07-08T12:20:44Z

The Turkish invasions of Cyprus of July and August 1974

Irlandos: /* Events leading up to the Turkish invasion */

2008-08-19T09:32:37Z

Events leading up to the Turkish invasion

Irlandos: /* Other sources */

2007-08-30T08:47:50Z

Other sources

Irlandos: /* The Turkish invasions of Cyprus of July and August 1974 */

2007-07-20T13:04:13Z

The Turkish invasions of Cyprus of July and August 1974

Irlandos: /* Events leading up to the Turkish invasion */

2007-04-05T11:18:36Z

Events leading up to the Turkish invasion

Irlandos: /* Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus declared "legally invalid" */

2007-02-04T15:24:39Z

Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus declared "legally invalid"

Irlandos: /* Turkish Cypriot accusations */

2007-02-04T15:22:49Z

Turkish Cypriot accusations

Irlandos: /* Turkish Cypriot accusations */

2007-02-04T15:21:23Z

Turkish Cypriot accusations

Irlandos: /* Greek Cypriot accusations */

2007-02-04T15:18:35Z

Greek Cypriot accusations

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 ===Missing persons===
-Over one and a half thousand people went missing after the Turkish invasion. This tragic problem of a purely [[humanitarian]] nature remains unresolved to this day.
+Over one and a half thousand people went missing after the Turkish invasion. This tragic problem of a purely humanitarian nature remains unresolved to this day.
-Greek Cypriot Military personnel and reservists, as well as civilians, including women and children, were captured by the invading Turkish armed forces, or disappeared, after the cessation of hostilities, in areas under the control of the Turkish army. Some were listed as prisoners of war by the International Red Cross. Television footage taken by a BBC crew in Turkish jails in [[Adana]] in September 1974 shows some persons who have later been identified by their own relatives as missing.
+Greek Cypriot Military personnel and reservists, as well as civilians, including women and children, were captured by the invading Turkish armed forces, or disappeared, after the cessation of hostilities, in areas under the control of the Turkish army. Some were listed as prisoners of war by the International Red Cross. Television footage taken by a BBC crew in Turkish jails in Adana in September 1974 shows some persons who have later been identified by their own relatives as missing.
 In [[1981]] the UN Committee on Missing Persons (CMP) was established.

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 Democracy was restored in Cyprus eight days after the coup against Makarios. By the time the UN Security Council was able to obtain a cease-fire on the [[22 July]] the Turkish forces had only secured a narrow corridor between Kyrenia and Nicosia, which they succeeded in widening during the next few days in violation of the cease-fire.
-At a conference on [[14 August]] [[1974]], Turkey demanded from the Cypriot government to accept its plan for a federal state, and population transfer, with 34% of the territory under Turkish Cypriot control. When the Cypriot acting president Clerides asked for 36 to 48 hours in order to consult with Athens and with Greek Cypriot leaders, the Turkish Foreign Minister denied Clerides that opportunity on the grounds that Makarios and others would use it to play for more time. An hour and a half after the conference broke up, the new Turkish attack began. Britain's then foreign secretary and soon to be prime minister James Callaghan, later disclosed that Kissinger "vetoed" at least one British military action to pre-empt the Turkish landing. Turkish troops rapidly occupied even more than was asked for at Geneva. Thirty-six-and a-half per cent of the land came under Turkish occupation reaching as far south as the [[Louroujina salient]].
+At a conference on [[14 August]] [[1974]], Turkey demanded from the Cypriot government to accept its plan for a federal state, and population transfer, with 34% of the territory under Turkish Cypriot control. When the Cypriot acting president Clerides asked for 36 to 48 hours in order to consult with Athens and with Greek Cypriot leaders, the Turkish Foreign Minister denied Clerides that opportunity on the grounds that Makarios and others would use it to play for more time. An hour and a half after the conference broke up, the new Turkish attack began. Britain's then foreign secretary and soon to be prime minister James Callaghan, later disclosed that Kissinger "vetoed" at least one British military action to pre-empt the Turkish landing. Turkish troops rapidly occupied even more than was asked for at Geneva. Thirty-six-and a-half per cent of the land came under Turkish occupation reaching as far south as the [[Louroukina|Louroujina salient]].
 In the process about 200,000 Greek Cypriots who made up 82% of the population in the north became refugees; many of them forced out of their homes (violations of Human Rights by the Turkish army have been acknowledged by the European Court of Human Rights),the rest fleeing at the word of the approaching Turkish army.

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 Cyprus has played a major part in the history of the [[Aegean Sea]]. The island's prehistory runs as far back as the beginning of the 6th millennium BC. After the Hittites and Egyptians, in the 2nd millennium BC the [[Achaeans|Achaean]] established [[polis|city-kingdoms]] on the [[Mycenaean]] model and introduced the Ancient [[Greek language]], the paganistic [[Greek religion]].
-The character of the island has gone through various changes impacting on its culture, cuisine and music, due to the many conquerors it has known - [[Greeks|Hellenes]], Romans, Venetians, Ottomans and the British.
+The character of the island has gone through various changes impacting on its culture, cuisine and music, due to the many conquerors it has known - Romans, Crusaders, Lusignsn, Venetians, Ottomans and the British.
-In [[1571]] the island was conquered by the Ottomans. The Cyprus under the [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman conquest]] lasted until [[1878]], when the Sultan leased Cyprus to Britain. Cyprus was then subsequently annexed by Britain when the Ottoman Empire entered into the [[World War I]] on the side of Germany; subsequently the island became a British Crown colony and came under British rule. The [[1923]] [[Treaty of Lausanne]] sealed the end of any notion of a legitimate Turkish claim to the overwhelmingly Greek populated island. Article 21 of the treaty gave the minority Muslims on the island the choice of leaving the island completely and living as Turks in Turkey, or staying there as British nationals.
+In [[1571]] the island was conquered by the Ottomans. The Cyprus rule under the [[Ottoman Empire]] lasted until [[1878]], when the Sultan leased Cyprus to Britain. Cyprus was then subsequently annexed by Britain when the Ottoman Empire entered into the [[World War I]] on the side of Germany; subsequently the island became a British Crown colony and came under British rule. The [[1923]] [[Treaty of Lausanne]] sealed the end of any notion of a legitimate Turkish claim to the overwhelmingly Greek populated island. Article 21 of the treaty gave the minority Muslims on the island the choice of leaving the island completely and living as Turks in Turkey, or staying there as British nationals.
 [[Image:EOKA_slogans.jpg|thumb|EOKA Slogans]]
-The objective of [[EOKA]] [http://www.cyprus-conflict.net/outbreak_of_violence%20-%20'55.htm] was to drive the British out of the island first and then integrate the island to Greece. As a nationalist organizations, some members of EOKA murdered Turkish Cypriots who colluded with the British. EOKA had no policy of targeting Turkish civilians, and tried to primarily targeted the British. EOKA initiated its activities by planting the first bombs on [[1 April]] [[1955]].
+The objective of [[EOKA]] [http://www.cyprus-conflict.net/outbreak_of_violence%20-%20'55.htm] was to drive the British out of the island first and then integrate the island to Greece. As a nationalist organizations, some members of EOKA killed Turkish Cypriots who colluded with the British. EOKA had no policy of targeting Turkish civilians, and tried to primarily targeted the British. EOKA initiated its activities by planting the first bombs on [[1 April]] [[1955]].
 The first secret talks for EOKA as a nationalist organization established to integrate the island to Greece, were started in the chairmanship of Makarios in [[Athens]] on [[2 July]] [[1952]]. In the aftermath of these meetings, a "Council of Revolution" was established on [[7 March]] [[1953]]. In early 1954, secret weaponry shipment to Cyprus started to the knowledge of the Greek government. Grivas covertly disembarked on the island on [[9 November]] [[1954]]. EOKA's campaign of asymmetric resistance to British colonialism [http://www.it-serve.co.uk/argylls/gsmcyprus.php] was properly under way.
-The first Turk to be killed by EOKA was killed on [[21 June]] [[1955]], when a Turkish policeman in the service of the British was killed. This was not an attack on Turks, but against British colonialism. EOKA also targeted Greek collaborators, such as policemen and any other who worked with the British colonial administration.
+The first Turk, a policeman in the service of the British, was killed by EOKA on [[21 June]] [[1955]]. This was not an attack on Turks, but against British colonialism. EOKA also targeted Greek collaborators, such as policemen and any other who worked with the British colonial administration.
-When it was becoming apparent that Cyprus was to be freed of the British yoke like other Crown Colonies, Turkey reneged on the treaties which bound it and began a campaign of state sponsored terrorism against the majority of Cypriots both Christians and Muslims that wanted independence and democracy(citation needed). This was synchronised with a Turkish government orchestrated campaign to exterminate the indigenous Greeks of Asia-Minor and [[Istanbul]]. In November [[1957]] the Turkish Resistance Organization was formed by Rauf Denktash, and was funded and trained by Turkey.
+When it was becoming apparent that Cyprus was to be freed of the British yoke like other Crown Colonies, Turkey reneged on the treaties which bound it and began a campaign of state sponsored terrorism against the majority of Cypriots both Christians and Muslims that wanted independence and democracy. This was synchronised with a Turkish government orchestrated campaign to exterminate the indigenous Greeks of Asia-Minor and [[Istanbul]]. In November [[1957]] the Turkish Resistance Organization - TMT - was formed by Rauf Denktash, and was funded and trained by Turkey.
-A year later, EOKA revived its attacks. In reply the TMT declared war on the Greek Cypriots as well. However, the TMT did not target only Greeks but also some Turkish Cypriots workers who were in favour of peace and independence of the island. After a joint mass demonstration by Greek and Turkish Cypriots, the TMT began murdering Turkish trade union members. In the same manner, left-wing Greek workers were murdered by Greek Cypriot terrorists. In order to carry through the policies of imperialism, it was necessary to smash the will of the working class whose attitude in favour of fraternity, peace and independence was an obstacle.
+A year later, EOKA revived its attacks. In reply the TMT declared war on the Greek Cypriots as well. However, the TMT did not target only Greeks but also some Turkish Cypriots workers who were in favour of peace and independence of the island. After a joint mass demonstration by Greek and Turkish Cypriots, the TMT began murdering Turkish trade union members. In the same manner, left-wing Greeks were killed by Greek Cypriot terrorists.
 On [[12 June]] [[1958]] eight innocent unarmed Greek Cypriot civilians from Kondemenos village were murdered by T.M.T. terrorists near the Turkish Cypriot populated village of Geunyeli in a totally unprovoked attack, after being dropped off there by the British authorities. After this the Turkish government ordered the TMT to blow up the offices of the Turkish press office in Nicosia in order to falsely put the blame of the Greek Cypriots and prevent independence negotiations from succeeding(citation needed). It also began a string of assassinations and murders of prominent Turkish Cypriot supporters of independence.
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 Resentment also rose within the Greek Cypriot community because Turkish Cypriots had been given a larger share of governmental posts than the size of their population warranted. The perceived disproportionate number of ministers and legislators assigned to the Turkish Cypriots meant that their representatives could veto budgets or legislation and prevent essential government operations from being carried out. Moreover, they complained that a Turkish Cypriot veto on the budget (in response to alleged failures to meet obligations to the Turkish Cypriots) made government immensely difficult. The Turkish Cypriots had also vetoed the amalgamation of Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot troops into the same units.
-In December [[1963]], after the government was repeatedly forced into deadlock and all major legislation and the budget were repeatedly vetoed by the Turkish Cypriot legislators at the behest of Turkey, the [[President of Cyprus|President of the Republic]] Makarios proposed some constitutional amendments to facilitate the functioning of the state. The Greek Cypriots subsequently claimed that the Turkish Cypriot Governmental Ministers withdrew from the Cabinet and the Turkish public servants ceased attending their offices. Then the Akritas Plan followed. This was a plan designed to end the new Republic by quickly suppressing Turkish Cypriot reactions to `imposed' constitutional change before outside intervention could be mounted.
+In November [[1963]], after the government was repeatedly deadlocked and all major legislation and the budget were repeatedly vetoed by the Turkish Cypriot legislators at the behest of Turkey, the [[President of Cyprus|President of the Republic]] Makarios proposed 13 constitutional amendments to facilitate the functioning of the state. Strife followed in December 1963 and throughout 1964, which ended with the Turkish Cypriots withdrawing from government and consolidating their positions in enclaves, in effect outside the control of Nicosia. The Greek Cypriots subsequently claimed that the Turkish Cypriot Governmental Ministers withdrew from the Cabinet and the Turkish public servants ceased attending their offices. Then the Akritas Plan followed. This was a plan designed to end the new Republic by quickly suppressing Turkish Cypriot reactions to `imposed' constitutional change before outside intervention could be mounted.
 The Turkish Cypriot community claimed that when they objected to the proposed amendments, they were forced out of their governmental offices by the Greek Cypriots, with the support of Greek forces.

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 In the spring of [[1974]], Cypriot intelligence discovered that [[EOKA B]] was planning a coup against President [[Makarios III|Makarios]] [http://www.cyprus-conflict.net/makarios%20to%20ghizikis.htm] which was sponsored by the [[Greek military junta of 1967-1974|military junta of Athens]].
-The junta had came to power in a military coup in 1967 which was condemned by the whole of Europe but had the support of the US. In the autumn of [[1973]] after the [[17 November]] [[Athens Polytechnic uprising|student uprising]] there had been a further coup in [[Athens]] in which the original Greek junta had been replaced by one still more obscurantist headed by the Chief of Military Police, Brigadier Ioannides, though the actual head of state was General Phaedon Gizikis.
+The junta had came to power in a military coup in 1967 which was condemned by the whole of Europe but had the support of the US. In the autumn of [[1973]] after the [[17 November]] [[Athens Polytechnic uprising|student uprising]] there had been a further coup in [[Athens]] in which the original Greek junta had been replaced by one still more obscurantist headed by the Chief of Military Police, Brigadier [[Dimitrios Ioannidis|Ioannides]], though the nominal head of state was General [[Phaedon Gizikis]].
 On [[2 July]] [[1974]] Makarios wrote an open letter to President Gizikis complaining bluntly that 'cadres of the Greek military regime support and direct the activities of the 'EOKA B' terrorist organization'. The Greek Government's immediate reply was to order the go-ahead to the conspiracy. On [[15 July]] [[1974]] sections of the National Guard, led by its Greek officers, overthrew the Government.
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 In the process about 200,000 Greek Cypriots who made up 82% of the population in the north became refugees; many of them forced out of their homes (violations of Human Rights by the Turkish army have been acknowledged by the European Court of Human Rights),the rest fleeing at the word of the approaching Turkish army.
-The ceasefire line from 1974 today separates the two communities on the island, and is commonly referred to as the Green Line.
+The ceasefire line from 1974 today separates the two communities on the island, and is commonly referred to as the [[Green Line]].
 By [[1975]] on 20,000 Greek Cypriots remained in the north, enclaved in the Karpass peninsula.

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 ===Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus declared "legally invalid"===
-In 1983 the subordinate local administration in the north declared independence under the name [[Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus]].  Immediately upon this declaration Britain convened a meeting of the United Nations Security Council to condemn the declaration as "legally invalid".
+In 1983 the subordinate local administration in the north declared independence under the name "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus".  Immediately upon this declaration Britain convened a meeting of the United Nations Security Council to condemn the declaration as "legally invalid".
 UN Security Council Resolution 541(1983) considered the "attempt to create the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is invalid, and will contribute to a worsening of the situation in Cyprus". It went on to state that it "Considers the declaration refereed to above as legally invalid and calls for its withdrawal".

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 ==Turkish Cypriot accusations==
-The Turkish Cypriots stated that after their rejection of the constitutional amendments in 1963, they were not only forced out (at gunpoint) of their positions in the government, but were also forced off their land (which at that time, they claim, was about 31%) and pushed into scattered enclaves making up only 4%) which was then taken over by Greek Cypriots and Greek settlers from Greece.  Greek Cypriot forces - supported by the [[EOKA]] terrorist group and Greek military 'advisors' - further pushed this policy.  They point to proof of these claims of ethnic cleansing at the [[1964]] Siege at [[Kokkina]] and the [[1967]] capture of .
+The Turkish Cypriots stated that after their rejection of the constitutional amendments in 1963, they were not only forced out (at gunpoint) of their positions in the government, but were also forced off their land (which at that time, they claim, was about 31%) and pushed into scattered enclaves making up only 4%) which was then taken over by Greek Cypriots and Greek settlers from Greece.  Greek Cypriot forces - supported by the [[EOKA]] terrorist group and Greek military 'advisors' - further pushed this policy.  They point to proof of these claims of ethnic cleansing at the [[1964]] Siege at [[Kokkina]] and the [[1967]] capture of [[Kofinou]].
 In 2004, Greek Cypriot film maker Antonis Angastiniotis' historical documentary "Voice of Blood" also portrays the mass killing of Turkish Cypriots in the villages of Aloa, Maratha and Sandalari in 1974 [http://www.aegeantimes.net/index.php?name=Comments&req=showreply&tid=10615&sid=1106&pid=10554&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0#tid10615].

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 ==Greek Cypriot accusations==
-Ever since then the Turkish Cypriot leadership, acting on instructions from the Turkish Government, has been the partitioning of Cyprus and eventual annexation by Turkey which is known as [[Taksim]]. Turkey's support for partition through the forced displacement of populations is revealed in the [[Galo Plaza]] report of [[1965]] and in its demands during negotiations with the British over Cyprus independence and the so called Acheson plan which would have divided Cyprus between Turkey and Greece. It is also revealed by the system of apartheid or racial segregation that formed the basis of the [[Annan Plan]] which the government of Cyprus claims was devised in order to meet all of Turkeys key demands.
+Ever since then, the Turkish Cypriot leadership, acting on instructions from the Turkish Government, has been pushing for the partitioning of Cyprus and eventual annexation by Turkey which is known as [[Taksim]]. Turkey's support for partition through the forced displacement of populations is revealed in the [[Galo Plaza]] report of [[1965]] and in its demands during negotiations with the British over Cyprus independence and the so called Acheson plan which would have divided Cyprus between Turkey and Greece. Greeks contend that the [[1964]] Turkish-Cypriot withdrawal into enclaves was in preparation for the eventual partition of the island.
-[[Greco-Turkish relations|Greek-Turkish relations]] had a long history of conflict and ethnic cleansing as the Greeks formerly under Ottoman rule fought for their independence. As Greece expanded to reclaim Greek-populated territories fierce wars took place, with the last major conflict being the war in Minor Asia (West Turkey). After [[World War I]] a number of Greek-populated Aegean islands and part of Minor Asia (today Turkey's west coast) including the cities of [[Smyrna]]-Izmir, [[Efessos]]-Izmir, came under Greek rule after intervention by the time's superpowers. However, the defeat of the [[Greek Army]] came by Kemal Atatürk's (founder of the modern Turkish state) forces in Minor Asia.
+Support for partition is also revealed by the system of apartheid, quotas and segregation that formed the basis of the [[Annan Plan]] which the government of Cyprus claims was devised in order to meet all of Turkey's key demands.
 ==Turkish Cypriot accusations==