Cyprus-Forum.com

[observer]

I don't really know why I bother, since most GCs have long since made up their mind, either in the 1950s or in their first years at their mother's knee if they are not old enough to remember the 1950s.

For the record, however, such was Turkey's urgency to invade Cyprus that Ecevit flew to London to ask them to intervene along with Turkey aginst the Greek forces.

Such was Turkey's eagerness to intervene that on July 18th (3 days after the coup) Ecevit, through the intermediary of the US Secretary of State, sent the Greek government a message demanding:
1. The resignation of Nikos Sampson as President of Cyprus.
2. The withdrawal of the Greek officers of the Greek National Guard.
3. Firm pledges to the effect that the island would remain independent.

These conditions were refused, although Greece did offer to rotate their officers in Cyprus(!).

It seems as though the Greeks and the GCs really didn't think that the Turkish Army would come. As a GC explained to the Times correspondant "It was a simple plan. The Greeks decided that as soon as the Turkish invaders got the upper hand they would tell them to stop bombing or the (TC) hostages would die" (The Times (of London) 23 July 1974)

As the Turkish military opertaion got underway, Eceveit made the following statement:

"The Turkish Armed Forces have started a peace operation in Cyprus this morning to end decades of strife provoked by extremists and irredentist elements. At the last stage of the Cyprus tragedy, these extremist elements have started massacring even their own people - the Greeks.

It is acknowledged in all the world that the coup which recently took place was manufactured by the dictatorial regime of Athens. In fact it was more than a coup. It was the forceful and flagrant violation of the independence of the Cyprus Republic and of the international agreements on which this Republic was based.

Turkey is a co-guarantor of the independence and constitutonal order of Cyprus. Turkey is fulfilling her legal responsibility by taking this action. The Turkish government did not resort to armed action before all other means were tried, but to no avail.

This is not an invasion, but an act to end invasion.
This is not an aggression, but an act to end aggression.

The operation of peace that started with the breaking of the day, this very morning. will bring an end to the darkest period in the history of Cyprus.

The victory of the Turkish Armed Forces will be a victory for justice, for peace, and for freedom.

I appeal to all Greeks in Cyprus who have suffered the attrocities of terrorism and dictatorship. Bury with the past dark days the inter-communal emnities and strifes that were the making of those same terrorists. Join hand in hand with your Turkish brothers to speed up this victory and together build up a new, free and happy Cyprus.

We are there to help you, not to hurt.
We are there with love, not with hate.
We are there not to fight you but to end your plight."

To answer Oracles question "At what point did Turkey tell the GCs who were fighting the coupists that it was there to assist them?" ... right at the very begining, having asked Britain for assistance (not given) and having asked Greece to stop (refused).


[/i]

[Oracle]

.... such was Turkey's urgency to invade Cyprus that Ecevit flew to London to ask them to intervene along with Turkey aginst the Greek forces.

To answer Oracles question "At what point did Turkey tell the GCs who were fighting the coupists that it was there to assist them?" ... right at the very begining, having asked Britain for assistance (not given) and having asked Greece to stop (refused).

Well it answers my question in as much as saying ...

At no point did Turkey communicate with the GCs who were themselves already in the process of terminating the coup.

Turkey did not seek alliance with the GCs ... it did not intervene to assist, but it invaded to gain for itself.

Turkey may have communicated with US, and UK and even Greece ... but at no point did they communicate with the GCs who were at the forefront of the resistance to the coup.

So why did Turkey not only by-pass the GCs but also join in killing them?

[denizaksulu]

The Multiverse is infinite .....

No silly. They just 'Implode'. Perhaps form a 'Black Hole' of Cyprus.

[denizaksulu]

I don't really know why I bother, since most GCs have long since made up their mind, either in the 1950s or in their first years at their mother's knee if they are not old enough to remember the 1950s.

For the record, however, such was Turkey's urgency to invade Cyprus that Ecevit flew to London to ask them to intervene along with Turkey aginst the Greek forces.

Such was Turkey's eagerness to intervene that on July 18th (3 days after the coup) Ecevit, through the intermediary of the US Secretary of State, sent the Greek government a message demanding:
1. The resignation of Nikos Sampson as President of Cyprus.
2. The withdrawal of the Greek officers of the Greek National Guard.
3. Firm pledges to the effect that the island would remain independent.

These conditions were refused, although Greece did offer to rotate their officers in Cyprus(!).

It seems as though the Greeks and the GCs really didn't think that the Turkish Army would come. As a GC explained to the Times correspondant "It was a simple plan. The Greeks decided that as soon as the Turkish invaders got the upper hand they would tell them to stop bombing or the (TC) hostages would die" (The Times (of London) 23 July 1974)

As the Turkish military opertaion got underway, Eceveit made the following statement:

"The Turkish Armed Forces have started a peace operation in Cyprus this morning to end decades of strife provoked by extremists and irredentist elements. At the last stage of the Cyprus tragedy, these extremist elements have started massacring even their own people - the Greeks.

It is acknowledged in all the world that the coup which recently took place was manufactured by the dictatorial regime of Athens. In fact it was more than a coup. It was the forceful and flagrant violation of the independence of the Cyprus Republic and of the international agreements on which this Republic was based.

Turkey is a co-guarantor of the independence and constitutonal order of Cyprus. Turkey is fulfilling her legal responsibility by taking this action. The Turkish government did not resort to armed action before all other means were tried, but to no avail.

This is not an invasion, but an act to end invasion.
This is not an aggression, but an act to end aggression.

The operation of peace that started with the breaking of the day, this very morning. will bring an end to the darkest period in the history of Cyprus.

The victory of the Turkish Armed Forces will be a victory for justice, for peace, and for freedom.

I appeal to all Greeks in Cyprus who have suffered the attrocities of terrorism and dictatorship. Bury with the past dark days the inter-communal emnities and strifes that were the making of those same terrorists. Join hand in hand with your Turkish brothers to speed up this victory and together build up a new, free and happy Cyprus.

We are there to help you, not to hurt.
We are there with love, not with hate.
We are there not to fight you but to end your plight."

To answer Oracles question "At what point did Turkey tell the GCs who were fighting the coupists that it was there to assist them?" ... right at the very begining, having asked Britain for assistance (not given) and having asked Greece to stop (refused).


[/i]

Someone is bound to correct me, but somewhere in the far recesses of my memory, I recall that leaflets in Turkish and Greek was dropped from aircraft. Somebody posted something about it. Anyone remember? The object of the military action was stated. A pointless exercise but just something niggling me.

[Oracle]

.... I recall that leaflets in Turkish and Greek was dropped from aircraft. Somebody posted something about it. Anyone remember? The object of the military action was stated. A pointless exercise but just something niggling me.

... About as trustworthy as when they told the Armenians they were just going for a walk ....

[denizaksulu]

.... I recall that leaflets in Turkish and Greek was dropped from aircraft. Somebody posted something about it. Anyone remember? The object of the military action was stated. A pointless exercise but just something niggling me.

... About as trustworthy as when they told the Armenians they were just going for a walk ....

Just as pointless as expecting the TCs to fight along with the GCs who since 1963 has been trying to dominate, who had been killing and trying to 'starve' into submission - if they had their way.

Either you have no clue what went on prior to 1974 or choose to bury your head in the sand a la Ostrich, so you can pour out your venom.

Grow up girl.

[boomerang]

.... I recall that leaflets in Turkish and Greek was dropped from aircraft. Somebody posted something about it. Anyone remember? The object of the military action was stated. A pointless exercise but just something niggling me.

... About as trustworthy as when they told the Armenians they were just going for a walk ....

Just as pointless as expecting the TCs to fight along with the GCs who since 1963 has been trying to dominate, who had been killing and trying to 'starve' into submission - if they had their way.

Either you have no clue what went on prior to 1974 or choose to bury your head in the sand a la Ostrich, so you can pour out your venom.

Grow up girl.

Deniz are you saying all GCS were dominating, kiling and trying to starve into submission the tcs?

Well atleast it explains the reasons behind the ethnic cleansing doesn't it...

[Bananiot]

Why did Greece go into Asia Minor in 1918? Would the argument be similar to the one employed by Turkey to justify 1974?

[zan]

.... such was Turkey's urgency to invade Cyprus that Ecevit flew to London to ask them to intervene along with Turkey aginst the Greek forces.

To answer Oracles question "At what point did Turkey tell the GCs who were fighting the coupists that it was there to assist them?" ... right at the very begining, having asked Britain for assistance (not given) and having asked Greece to stop (refused).

Well it answers my question in as much as saying ...

At no point did Turkey communicate with the GCs who were themselves already in the process of terminating the coup.

Turkey did not seek alliance with the GCs ... it did not intervene to assist, but it invaded to gain for itself.

Turkey may have communicated with US, and UK and even Greece ... but at no point did they communicate with the GCs who were at the forefront of the resistance to the coup.

So why did Turkey not only by-pass the GCs but also join in killing them?

And 1963 didn't happen and the murders did not happen and the isolation did not happen and the coup did not happen...How many chances did you expect to get

[denizaksulu]

.... I recall that leaflets in Turkish and Greek was dropped from aircraft. Somebody posted something about it. Anyone remember? The object of the military action was stated. A pointless exercise but just something niggling me.

... About as trustworthy as when they told the Armenians they were just going for a walk ....

Just as pointless as expecting the TCs to fight along with the GCs who since 1963 has been trying to dominate, who had been killing and trying to 'starve' into submission - if they had their way.

Either you have no clue what went on prior to 1974 or choose to bury your head in the sand a la Ostrich, so you can pour out your venom.

Grow up girl.

Deniz are you saying all GCS were dominating, kiling and trying to starve into submission the tcs?

Well atleast it explains the reasons behind the ethnic cleansing doesn't it...

Boomerang it certainly does not mean that. Events have proved it, but the climate at the time would not have been conducive to judge who is Eoka B, Left wing, right wing, Supporters of this or that. In that climate, unfortunately all get tarnished with the same brush. Only after the dust has settled down and after the fact do things appear more clearly.

Did any prominent GC at the time lift a finger up and say, hey , what are we doing to the TCs? I am suresome have 'thought' it, but action speaks louder than words.