Cyprus-Forum.com

[Paphitis]

The aim of the US inspired Coup was to rid Cyprus of the "Red Priest", whom they perceived to be getting a little too friendly with the Soviet Union and other non aligned countries.

This analysis is a little simplistic. The 'Red Priest' tag was one attached to Makarios in the 60s at around the time of the Cuban missile crisis when the US was gripped with paranoia. By the 70s the US had warmed to Makarios, he having given the US permission to use Britain's sovereign basis on the island. He'd also convinced them of his non-communist credentials. He was a Christian spiritual leader, for goodness sake!

It was a monumental f*%k up by America but don't try and play down the Greek junta's role in the debacle because it is they who ordered the coup, misdirected it seems, in part, by individual Greek Americans in or connected to the US administration, with expansionist Hellenic dreams.

The US was in the middle of the Watergate scandal and in chaos. Kissinger was formulating US foreign policy on the hoof. The only objective, after the shit hit the fan, was to prevent a full-scale war between two NATO allies.

According to recently released, declassified American government documents there is no evidence of a coordinated US plot to remove Makarios, as exists with other such plots to remove leaders in Latin America. See here:

http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?doc ... =firefox-a

In full agreement . The spark came directly from Greece. There is no denying the fact that the Junta despised Makarios and considered his demands for the removal of Greek officers as unacceptable. Makarios was not a diplomat but a leader . His response to the Greek Junta " I have outlived previous Greek governments and I shall outlive you too"
was not helpful at the time in defusing an already hyped up situation as far as the removal of Greek officers was concerned.
Turkey invaded as a direct result of the GREEK orchestrated coup .
Once Turkey invaded the Junta went into hiding , no "political" access to "government" officials was possible. Foreign diplomats were unable to establish contact with the ruling Junta , it was an absolute disgrace as a result of which our island was partly occupied by Turkey and Greece liberated from the Bastards .

You too need to read Henry Kissinger's memoirs and also The Cyprus Conspiracy- America, Espionage and the Turkish Invasion by Richard O'Malley....

The COUP was orchestrated by Henry Kissinger himself...But this would conflict with your desire in kissing America's butt all the time...

[The Cypriot]

... don't try and play down the Greek junta's role in the debacle because it is they who ordered the coup ...

No one is playing down the junta's role.

Yes they are. These unsubstantiated conspiracy theories are often used to downplay or even deny Greece's responsibilities in triggering the tragic events of 1974; because some find it difficult to condemn Greek nationalism and the disastrous effect it has had on Cyprus.

However, we shouldn't confuse that role with any participation by a free and Democratic Greece, such as we, fortunately, have now to support us in removing the Turks.

I don't confuse the role of the guarantors of Cyprus's territorial integrity in supporting our desire be free of foreign domination. I am reminded that both the free and democratic Greece and the free and democratic Britain endorsed the Annan Plan.

[Paphitis]

... don't try and play down the Greek junta's role in the debacle because it is they who ordered the coup ...

No one is playing down the junta's role.

Yes they are. These unsubstantiated conspiracy theories are often used to downplay or even deny Greece's responsibilities in triggering the tragic events of 1974; because some find it difficult to condemn Greek nationalism and the disastrous effect it has had on Cyprus.

However, we shouldn't confuse that role with any participation by a free and Democratic Greece, such as we, fortunately, have now to support us in removing the Turks.

I don't confuse the role of the guarantors of Cyprus's territorial integrity in supporting our desire be free of foreign domination. I am reminded that both the free and democratic Greece and the free and democratic Britain endorsed the Annan Plan.

There was no Greek nationalism at the time. If anything, Greece was gripped by massive anti communism and America perceived Makarios to be a threat. They then instigated the coup to get rid of Makarios.

These are not conspiracy theories, but come from the horses mouth - Henry Kissinger himself.

Please read his memoirs.

[The Cypriot]

You too need to read Henry Kissinger's memoirs and also The Cyprus Conspiracy- America, Espionage and the Turkish Invasion by Richard O'Malley....

The COUP was orchestrated by Henry Kissinger himself...But this would conflict with your desire in kissing America's butt all the time...

The facts currently to hand simply do not support this claim.

"If any actions were taken against Makarios by any American officials, which I do not believe occured, it was against our instructions and it was against our convictions." Henry Kissinger, after the event.

[The Cypriot]

There was no Greek nationalism at the time. If anything, Greece was gripped by massive anti communism and America perceived Makarios to be a threat. They then instigated the coup to get rid of Makarios.

These are not conspiracy theories, but come from the horses mouth - Henry Kissinger himself.

Please read his memoirs.

Paphiti, the junta was a right-wing dictatorship. Greek nationalism was rabid in Cyprus at the time. In the 1970s Makarios was not considered a threat by America. Please can you quote me the passages from Kissinger's memoirs where he admits to orchestrating the coup.

[Paphitis]

You too need to read Henry Kissinger's memoirs and also The Cyprus Conspiracy- America, Espionage and the Turkish Invasion by Richard O'Malley....

The COUP was orchestrated by Henry Kissinger himself...But this would conflict with your desire in kissing America's butt all the time...

The facts currently to hand simply do not support this claim.

"If any actions were taken against Makarios by any American officials, which I do not believe occured, it was against our instructions and it was against our convictions." Henry Kissinger, after the event.

Henry Kissinger was in cohorts with the Greek Junta and instigated the whole thing so as to avoid the most feared prospect of Soviet influence within the East Mediterranean.

There is an admission to this in his memoirs, so what more proof do you want.

I shall hunt for the actual extract and post it to you, but this will take some time. The US never did require the permission to interfere within other countries. It has a long history of undermining and influencing many countries, including Greece and Turkey.

Furthermore, The Greek Junta did not have the support of the Greek Public at large. So I ask you, were the Greeks non nationalistic for opposing the Junta?

[Oracle]

... don't try and play down the Greek junta's role in the debacle because it is they who ordered the coup ...

No one is playing down the junta's role.

Yes they are.

No they are not.

These unsubstantiated conspiracy theories are often used to downplay or even deny Greece's responsibilities in triggering the tragic events of 1974;

Because there were audacious reasons behind the coup, it does not mean these are just conspiracy theories.

because some find it difficult to condemn Greek nationalism and the disastrous effect it has had on Cyprus.

There you go again! -- confusing the mindless and unsupported acts of the junta with collective Greek Nationalism.

However, we shouldn't confuse that role with any participation by a free and Democratic Greece, such as we, fortunately, have now to support us in removing the Turks.

I don't confuse the role of the guarantors of Cyprus's territorial integrity in supporting our desire be free of foreign domination.

Greece is not offering her support as a guarantor, but as an ally and fellow EU member.

I am reminded that both the free and democratic Greece and the free and democratic Britain endorsed the Annan Plan.

I thought Greece only lent weight to Papadopoulos proposing modifications which later did not materialise ...

[The Cypriot]

Henry Kissinger was in cohorts with the Greek Junta and instigated the whole thing so as to avoid the most feared prospect of Soviet influence within the East Mediterranean.

I no longer believe this is true. The US were paying Cyprus to use listening facilities on the island. Kissinger admired Makarios, his shrewdness, his statesmanship. He thought Makarios brought stability to the East Med. He thought Makarios held AKEL (communists) in check. Makarios even gave permission to use Britain's sovereign bases for which America was grateful (and may even have paid for).

There is an admission to this in his memoirs, so what more proof do you want.

Show me the proof and I will accept it.

I shall hunt for the actual extract and post it to you, but this will take some time.

Please do.

The US never did require the permission to interfere within other countries. It has a long history of undermining and influencing many countries,.

This is true and there is evidence that the US has orchestrated the overthrow of leaders they disliked in Latin America eg. in Chile. But there is no evidence to hand to susbtantiate your claim that the coup against Makarios was orchestrated by America.

Furthermore, The Greek Junta did not have the support of the Greek Public at large. So I ask you, were the Greeks non nationalistic for opposing the Junta?

Of course the Greeks did oppose the junta. Any freedom-loving people would oppose military rule. I was talking about Greek nationalism in Cyprus, through EOKA B.

[The Cypriot]

... don't try and play down the Greek junta's role in the debacle because it is they who ordered the coup ...

No one is playing down the junta's role.

Yes they are.

No they are not.

Yes they are.

These unsubstantiated conspiracy theories are often used to downplay or even deny Greece's responsibilities in triggering the tragic events of 1974;

Because there were audacious reasons behind the coup, it does not mean these are just conspiracy theories.

I am waiting for proof.

because some find it difficult to condemn Greek nationalism and the disastrous effect it has had on Cyprus.

There you go again! -- confusing the mindless and unsupported acts of the junta with collective Greek Nationalism.

What are you on about?

[miltiades]

Proof Paphitis and I will also accept this theory.
May I also add that the Greeks mostly supported the Junta out of fear and self interest. I visited Greece on a number of times during the Junta period and all that I witnessed was complete and utter acceptance of the Junta , out of fear it may be but we Cypriots feared the Brits too but resisted them. The Greek people did not resit the Junta. The country side and mountains were covered with their placards " ELLAS ELLLINON XRISTIANON "
H EPANASTASIS IPIRXE ISTORIKI ANAGEOTIS " etc etc " None defaced . In a small town in Northern Greece , Aridea which is near Serres I defaced one such sign just to show some Greeks how its done .
I was a guest of the towns' doctor and later I realized that my actions were entirely stupid and selfish .