observer wrote:CBBB wrote:OK, not provocation, but enough of an excuse in their view.
And not just Turkey thinking so. On 30 Aug 1974 the German Die Zeit wrote:The massacre of Turkish Cypriots in Paphos and Famagusta is the proof of how justified the Turks were to undertake their intervention."
Or the Daily Telegraph more recently on 15 Aug 1996:When Britain did nothing, Turkey invaded Cyprus and occupied its northern part. Turkish Cypriots have constitutional right on their side and understandably fear a renewal of persecution if the Turkish army withdraws
As to its legality. From The Parliamentary Council of The Assembly of Europe, Resolution 573 (1974) saying in part:Regretting the failure of the attempt to reach a diplomatic settlement which led the Turkish Government to exercise its right of intervention in accordance with Article 4 of the Guarantee Treaty of 1960;
...or the Athens Court of Appeal saying on 21 March 1979:The Turkish intervention in Cyprus, which was carried out in accordance with the London-Zurich agreements, was legal. Turkey had, as one of the Guarantor Powers, the right to fulfill her obligation. The true guilty ones were the Greek Officers, who organised the coup and thereby created the conditions for an intervention.
OK smartarse, give us a quote that gave Turkey the legal right to sell GC land to carpetbaggers or re-populate Cyprus with mainland Turks.