The Significance of The Cyprus
Peace Operation in 1974
In
the history, the Cyprus island was bought by Guy de Lusignan who was the leader
of the Templar Knights in the Jarusalem. After the Guy, the king of the England
Lionheart Richard received the island. And after that the Venice took the
island.
And
finally, Lala Mustafa Pasha was conquered the Cyprus in 1571. After that the
Cyprus was one of the lands of the Ottoman Empire until the decadence of the
Empire.
After the decadence of the Ottoman
Empire, some kind of seperatist and nationalist riotings was started against to
the Turkish people that living in the Cyprus island by the Greeks. This
seperatist demonstrations turned to massacres from 1950’s, to 1974. So, the dispute
over Cyprus didn’t start in 1974. The
independent Republic of Cyprus was born in 1960 as a partnership state based on
the political equality of the co – founding Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot
peoples. It had a Greek Cypriot president and a Turkish Cypriot vice –
president, each with veto powers to ensure political equality at the executive
level.
A special international treaty, the Treaty of
Guarantee, obligated Turkey, Greece and the United Kingdom to preserve the
independence of Cyprus and prevent its annexation by any other state. You can
think about this case. Greece and Turkey can be a guarantor, but where is the
England from? Because England has an airbase in the Cyprus. And also, in First
World War the Cyprus was occupied by the England. And England was one of the
guarantors of the Cyprus in 1959. In that years, England was more poverfull.
This system of checks and balances, however, faced a
serious and immediate challenge when the Greek Cypriot side attempted to amend
the Constitution by removing all provisions that gave the Turkish Cypriots a
meaningful say in the affairs of the State. Failing that, in late 1963 they
launched an all – out armed attack on the Turkish Cypriots throughout the
island, killing and wounding thousands, driving one-quarter of the Turkish
Cypriot population out of their homes and properties in 103 villages and
causing widespread destruction.
After one year, because of that events, Turkey wanted
to intervene. But the international powers, especially the USA and the UK
didn’t supported Turkey’s desire.
The brutality of this attack was described by former
Undersecretary of the US State Department, George Ball, in his memories titled
“The Past Has Another Pattern” by observing that Archbishop Makarios, the then
Greek Cypriot leader, turned this beautiful island into his private
slaughterhouse. He further stated that “Makarios’ central interest was to block
off any Turkish intervention so that he and his Greek Cypriots could go on
happily massacring the Turkish Cypriots.”
In
1974, Turkey was forced to intervene. The Turkish rescue operation in 1974
undoubtedly saved the Turkish Cypriot community from mass – extermination,
prevented the addition of Cyprus to Greece, and thus preserved the independence
of the island. Turkey’s legitimate and timely action has kept the peace on the
island since 1974.
So;
the Cyprus Peace Operation is one of the most important events in Turkish
Political History. Because, Turkey has proved itself in the Middle East region
with this military operation. In addition to; despite the all international
pressures, the Turkey was nearby the it’s people.
A – What was the main problem?
Cyprus has
multiple structure of the people. The Turkish people and the Greek people are
living together in Cyprus for a long time. In the beginning of the 18th century
Turkish population was much more than the Greeks. But in 19th century Turkish
population was reduced by the Greeks with influence of the Self –
Determination.
Moreover, the Greek Cypriots had “ENOSIS” ideology. Later
the affacted people formed the EOKA with this ideology.
A1 – What is the
ENOSIS & EOKA & EOKA – B?
Briefly, Enosis is the meaning of Greek nationalism and
its main purpose is setting up the “Big,United Greece”. It’s dictionary meaning
is union or united. Enosis’ main aim is the Greek people that is living outside
of the Greece for incorporation of the regions they inhabit, to the Greece.
That Greek nationalism turned to violance in Cyprus. So
the EOKA was organized by Georgios Grivas, an officer in the Greek army, with
the support of Makarios, Orthodox archbishop of Cyprus. Its armed campaign,
started early in 1955, reached a summit in 1956, with the exile of Makarios to
the Seychelles and the temporary depletion of British forces in the island
because of the Suez Crisis. By early 1957, however, a reinforced British army
renewed attacks on the mountain hideouts of the considerably outnumbered EOKA.
Violence subsided after Makarios release from detention in exile in March 1957,
though there were increased hostilities leading up to mid – 1958, when EOKA
clashed with Turkish Cypriot guerrillas. In 1958 Makarios announced he would
accept independence for Cyprus rather than enosis. In February 1959 a
compromise agreement was concluded between Turkish and Greek representatives at
Zürich and endorsed by the Cypriot communities in London. The next month, EOKA
disbanded.
In 1971 Grivas, who had served for a time as commander of
the Greek Cypriot National Guard but had been recalled by the Greek government,
reentered Cyprus secretly to form EOKA B, to “prevent a betrayal of Enosis.”
After Grivas’ death in 1974, his followers continue the struggle. Makarios
(then president of Cyprus) officially proscribed EOKA B in April 1974, three
months before he was ousted and before Turkish forces invaded and divided the
country in a brief civil war. In 1978, EOKA B declared its dissolution.
B – Greek
Massacres And Turkish Intervene
Actually, the
Greeks made some kind of massacres from the beginning of the 20. Century,
especially with the WW1. Because the Greece joined to the entented states. And
they joined to occupy of the Turkey. These invades reflected to the Greek
Cypriots. They started to fight against to the Turkish Cypriots.
In the 1963, the cancelled of the Guarantee Treaty was
declared by Makarios. The massacres was started especially from 1963 and it
continued to 1974. In the beginning, Turkey wanted to intervene to Cyprus in
1964. But Turkey’s capasity wasn’t enought for the transboundary operation.
Also, Johnson who was the president of the USA sent a letter to Turkish
government. In the letter he said, “If you entered to Cyprus, you can’t use the
NATO’s weapons. Also, If you faced with the USSR’s intervene, the USA won’t
support to you.” So, Turkey gave up from the operation.
Till the 1974, much more from the 100 Turkish villages
was burned. 27.000 Turkish Cypriots moved to Turkey and hundreds of thousands
people was killed by the Greek Cypriots and EOKA – B.
In 1967, Turkey wanted to intervene to Cyprus again. But
the USA prevented the Turkey again. Turkey get UN to accept it’s some desires.
These desires and giving ups was a subject to the radios.
The Greek radios were publishing a Turkish song which is the “Bekledim de
gelmedin, hiç mi beni sevmedin?... / I waited for you but you didn’t come”.
But the Turks would publish as an answer “Bir gece ansızın gelebilirim.. / I
can suddenly come one night..” after the operation.
Also
in this part, we will use the some interwievs from the international newspapers
in that times.
·
Reporter
of the UPI Agency 23.07.1974 (USA): The Greek Cypriots were
firing to everyone. Then I entered to any home. One Greek soldier was raping a
Turkish woman. I closed my eyes and I escaped..
·
Reporter
of the Cyprus UPI Agency 24.07.1974(USA): The Greeks
killed a lot of woman and children in Limasol. I saw 20 children’s corpses on
the way. The Greeks were waiting such as vultures.
·
Reporter
of the Washington Post Newspaper (USA) 30.07.1974: In
the Alaminos village where is the near by Larnaka, 15 Turks were killed and
their bodies have been throwed to hollows with a bulldozer. The Greeks were
saying that “We took an order, it’s killing all Turkish Cypriots until the
arriving of the Turkish Army.”
·
Reporter
of the CBS TV (USA) 29.01.1974: 88 Turkish corpses
were found in a dump area in Cyprus. Some of them haven’t got a head.
·
David
Lancashinge from AP Agency (USA) 01.08.1974: We opened a mass
grave in the outside of Maratha village. This is one of the biggest
inhumanities in the humanity history.
·
The
Germany’s Voice Radio (Germany) 30.07.1974: The human
mentality can’t brook the Greek’s massacres. In the Famagusta, the EOKA – B
militants killed Turkish people. And they cut neck of a Turkish man.
·
Die
Welt Newspaper (Germany) 26.07.1974: The EOKA – B militants
are attacking such as a lots of dogs to the Turkish villages.
·
Kurt
Lariken from Die Welt (Germany) 24.07.1974: Now, I’m in
Limasol. The Turkish civil society are being killed cruelly. The Greeks don’t
care woman,children or someone..
·
A
Reporter from Soir Newspaper (France) 24.07.1974: I
saw that cruelly events. The Greeks burned Turkish mosques and homes. The Turks
are living with fear in Cyprus.
·
John
Akass from The Sun Newspaper (England) 03.09.1974: I
saw Maratha massacre. What can I say about this brutality. This is a lowness.
·
Lars
Harkanson UN Cyprus Officer, October 1974: The Aloda
Massacre.. I didn’t face with such as this barbarity during my all life. That
was a savagery.. The World will know this massacre from the UN’s mouth.
B1
– Starting of the Operation
In
the 15 July 1974, Greece decided a coup d etat in Cyprus. They wanted to send
the Makarios. Because, Makarios was elected by the people. And he didn’t want
to be a governor of the Greece. But the EOKA – B did a coup d etat leadership
of the Nikos Sampson against to Makarios. But Makarios couldn’t catch, he
escaped from the island.
These
events and the military junta in Cyprus created a suitable platform for Turkish
government to use the public support behind of it also in parliament
legitimating intervention decision. Nikos Sampson confiscation to
the Makarios government meant the end of the independent Cyprus and the end of
fair representation chance of the minority rights. The military government in
Cyprus changed the name of the state as the Cyprus Helen Republic. The
governance of the EOKA[1] would certainly continue aggression toward Turkish Cypriots life and
their prosperities in the island.
So,
Turkey started to operation on 20 July 1974. First Operation continued only 2
days. Turkey took northern part of the island till the Girne. And after that
the ceasefire was declared.
And
a meeting was arranged by the UN in the Geneva between Turkey, Greece, England.
Turkey wanted to set up an autonom independent state in the Northern Cyprus.
But the Greeks didn’t deal with Turkey. Also, the England didn’t help to each
countries about the solvetion of the problem. This meeting continued until the
14 August 1974.
So,
Turkey had to continue to the operation. And the 2. Operation was started with
(Ayşe Tatile Çıksın! / Ayşe[2]
can go to holiday! ) this password..
It
finished in 2 days again. But the 1/3 of Cyprus was taken by Turkish army. The
safety was provided in the Turkish villages.
Conglusion
After
the peace operation, firstly The Cyprus Turkish Federal State was declared in
1975. And this federal state turned to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
Turkey’s intervention stopped the massacres and bring the peace to the Cyprus.
Cyprus
problem isn’t a problem for the security and existence problem for Turkish
Cypriots but also security and existence problem for Turkey in the region. The
geopolitic location of Cyprus is so important of the Turkey. Because Turkey
wants to be religional power in the Middle East region. So, Cyprus is an
aircraft carrier for Turkey to capable of under control of the Middle East.
Also,
Turkey provided its own safety against to the threats which is the coming from
the South of the Turkey. And nowadays, Turkey is searching for petrol in the
Mediterranean Sea. But, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus wasn’t recognised
by the other states exceptionally
Turkey. Turkey’s allies didn’t recognise the Northern Cyprus also. So, today
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus haven’t any diplomatical level such as
Taiwan of China or Palestina.
This
operation was so necessary in that time. Because, Turkey’s cognates were being
killed. Turkey had to make military intervention. And whatever Turkey does not
withdraw the army.
As
a result, we can say that main problem of Cyprus two society to force the
establishment of a government bringing together quickly, can not create an
environment in the two communities can live in harmony.
Murat ERDİNÇ
Niğde Üniversitesi
Siyaset Bilimi ve Uluslararası İlişkiler
Bibliography
· Meaningful
Anniversary Of The Cyprus Peace Operation Turkish Parliament Proclaims
Solidarity With TRNC And Demands Equal Treatment For The Two States On The
Island - http://www.mfa.gov.tr/meaningful-anniversary-of-the-cyprus-peace-operation-turkish-parliament-proclaims-solidarity-with-trnc.en.mfa
· ÖZAKMAN
Turgut – That Crazy Turks in Cyprus
· ÇAKMAK
Haydar – 41 Crisis in Turkish Foreign Policy
· Maratha, Santalaris and Aloda massacre - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maratha,_Santalaris_and_Aloda_massacre
· KIBRIS
MESELESİNE BİR BAKIŞ - http://muraterdinc1.blogspot.com/2014/10/normal-0-21-false-false-false-tr-x-none.html
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