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S-0869-0003-08-00001

Expanded Number S-0869-0003-08-00001

Title |tems-in-Peace-keeping operations - - background notes on reports of build-up of arms and troops in Cyprus, July 1964

Date Created 14/07/1964

Record Type Archival Item

Container S-0869-0003: Peace-Keeping Operations Files of the Secretary-General: U Thant: Cyprus

Print Name of Person Submit Image Signature of Person Submit 14 July 1964

Background notes on reports of build-up of arms and troops in Cyprus

As stated in the Secretary-General's report to the Security Council (3/5764) of 15 June 1964* the build-up of military personnel and equipment on both sides in Cyprus has become a cause for increasing concern in recent weeks. This activity, on both sides, has not only continued since the presentation of that report, but appears rather definitely to have increased. On the Greek Cypriot side, the influx of arms, equipment and personnel, mostly through the port of , has been more or less overt, and some information of this nature has been confirmed to UNFICYP by Greek Cypriot authorities. Incoming personnel since 1 June are known to include 600 Greek Cypriot servicemen returning from colour service in the Greek Army, and some 2,000 Greek Cypriot students together with a few volunteers returning from study abroad, of whom some few may have been non-Cypriot Greeks. It would appear that a proportion of these students had, to some extent, organized themselves while abroad, and many may have had military training while in . In addition, it is reported that 400 ex-service officers and NCOs of the Greek Army have arrived as instructors. These arrivals add up to a total of between 3^000 and 3,1+00 men. The figures given by the Greek Cypriot authorities approximate the figures established by direct observation by UNFICIP. /^a^jHtefceifl., On 3 July, a routine relief of the Greek Army contingent in Cyprus was carried out, with UW observers present, through the port of Famagusta; 407 personnel arrived and 439 departed. Training under national guard auspices of recruits, called up under - 2 - the conscription law, has been ovserved in a number of areas in the Island, including Boghaz, Famagusta, Larnaca and the Troodos- forest. No effort has been made to c'onceal these activities o'SC the weapons in these training areas, which include twenty-eight 25 pounder field guns, eight Bofors and twelve 3.7 anti-aircraft guns, and fourteen anti-tank guns of the 17 pounder and 6 pounder typs. It is emphasized by the Greek Cjrpriot authorities that these activities are with a view to meeting external threats and are not related to the internal situation on the Island. On the Turkish Cypriot side, information is from UKFICYP observation only and is, therefore, far less detailed and comprehensive. There have been reports of arrivals both of personnel and of arms and ammunition in the Mansoura areaj the estimated number of persons infiltrating being between 250 and 300. Activities have also been observed from vessels off the coast in the area where debarkation of stores and small numbers of personnel up to approximately 200 have been observed or reported. Specifically, on the night of 25 June four or five fishing boats brought ammunition and supplies ashore from a trawler, while on 27 June ten young men were landed from a fast torpedo boat, which I disembarked 30-35 men in the same area on the night of 28 June. There is at present no evidence to support the far larger figures given for surreptitious arrivals of Greek military personnel in Cyprusj nor of the supposed arrival of considerably more than 20JO Turks. SUMMAEY OF MILITARY ACTION IN CYPRUS, 5-8 AUGUST 196^

1. On 5 August 5, General K. S. Thimayya, Commander UNFICYP, reported that the situation in City and in the Mansoura - Kokkina area was very tense. Subsequently, fighting broke out in the Mansoura - •*y

Cypriots near Ayios Theodores} and there were reports of heavy shooting in various places in the island.

2. In Nicosia, built a number of provocative positions near the Green Line overlooking the Greek Cypriot shopping area, and established a new roadblock near the junction of Ledra and Paphos Streets. In this sane vicinity, the government National Guard occupied a shop. These moves increased tension in the walled city "£p-/tL&^x/ and firing broke out between the two communities. Groolt Cypri&fes reported one killed and three wounded on their side. United Nations troops established a screen between the National Guard and Turkish Cypriot positions while negotiations vrere in progress to obtain the removal of the positions and to stop the firing. 3. On 6 August, both sides agreed to the removal of their new positions in Nicosia, and the recently constructed defences were dismantled by United Nations troops. That afternoon about 50 Turkish National Contingent troops in battle order and fully armed entered the walled city. Reports indicate that they may take up positions on the Green Line. Heavy firing soon broke out in the area of the Ledra Palace Hotel Paphos Street which appeared to have been started by . In the evening, buses were seen outside the Greek National Contingent Camp. One Infantry company from this contingent had taken up defensive positions north of their camp, which appeared to be deserted. k. Later in the evening of the sixth, 100 armed National Guard troops were seen moving towards Nicosia. During the night, all lights along the Green Line in the walled city were out, and there was a sporadic exchange of fire. -2-

5. During the last fortnight, UNFICYP had reported the presence of two Government patrol boats based at Kyrenia, operating in the vicinity of Kokkina - Mansoura. On 5 August, a Government boat patrolling the area off Mansoura was fired at from this village. The boat returned four shots with an anti-aircraft gun. On 5 August, a Government patrol boat was again reported offshore from Kokkina. The movement of these boats caused considerable tension in the area, resulting in sporadic shooting between National Guard and Turkish Cypriot positions in the high ground in the vicinity.

6. On 5 August, National Guardsmen opened fire on Turkish Cypriots in the Ayios Theodores area. The National Guardsmen used a few rounds of 106 mm recoilless rifles and 60 mm mortars. Turkish Cypriots in return fired two rounds of 80 mm rocket launchers. United Nations troops intervened and negotiations resulted in a cease-fire early in the evening. But a few hours later firing broke out again and continued throughout the day of 6 August. 7- Meanwhile, National Guardsmen and Police sealed off the Turkish Cypriot quarter in Ktima and cut the water supply. During the day of 6 August more firing broke out at several other places on the island, particularly ia the Kyrenia, Dikhomo, Potamia, Temblos, Tylliria and Mandres Hamid areas - and also in the suburbs of Nicosia. 8. While attempts were being made by the Commander to arrange a cease- fire in the Kokkina - Mansoura area, shooting continued through 7 August. During the afternoon, heavy firing was reported in the Piyenia - Ayios Theodores - Mansoura area. Armoured cars of the National Guard were observed advancing towards the village of Pakhy Amos. Mortars of the National Guard opened fire in the Mosphileri area. General Thimayya reported that a build-up of National Guard had continued since the day before and a number of vehicle convoys were reported to have been seen in the area. *-* 9. On 7 August, two/G-r-ooIc Gypriot patrol boats fired 50 round of 40 mm shells at Kokkina and about 20 shells at Mansoura. By midday, the National Guard in Piyenia opened heavy fire in the direction of Ayios Theodores. That afternoon, a National Guard company supported by armoured -3- ceirs advanced from Pakhy Amos towards Turkish positions. Six 25 pounder guns were positioned in Pomos. UNFICYP efforts to arrange a local cease-fire proved fruitless. Negotiations, however, continued at the highest level in Nicosia. Meanwhile Turkish Cypriote requested United Nations assistance in evacuating women and children from Mansoura. Some 200 took refuge in the United Nations' camp. Turkish Cypriot fighters were moving into Kokkina and evacuation of women and children from Mansoura had started. 10. In the early evening of 7 August, k Turkish Airforce get fighters flew over Polis firing guns out to sea. It was reported that there was no firing against ground targets. 11. Fighting continued in the Mansoura - Kokkina area during the night of 7-8 August. On the afternoon of the eighth, artillery deployed in Pomos area opened fire against Kokkina. Subsequently on that date, the villages of Ayios Theodores, and Mansoura were occupied by Government forces. Fighting was continuing in the area around the village of Kokkina according to last UNFICYP reports on the eighth. 12. During the afternoon of the eighth, a United Nations helicopter was sent to the Kokkina area in order to evacuate a detachment of the Swedish Contingent of UNFICYP which was in an exposed post on the hill between Pakhy Ammos and Kokkina, which was under heavy mortar fire. An officer of the Swedish Contingent went to Pomos to negotiate a cease- fire that would enable the United Nations post and also the women and children in Kokkina to be evacuated. This request for a cease-fire was rejected by the local authorities. The helicopter then flew to the ridge and evacuated the United Nations soldiers, and in doing so came under fire. The evacuation of women and children from Kokkina began on the afternoon of the eighth by means of UNFICYP armored cars. IJ. On the afternoon of the eighth, it was reported that aircraft identified as belonging to the Turkish air force attacked National Guard positions around Kokkina. A few minutes later three Turkish aircraft attacked the same positions with rockets. lU. It was later reported that also on the eighth Turkish aircraft had attacked a Government patrol boat in the harbour at Xeros. The boat was reported to have been disabled and the crew was said to have abandoned it. Of the crew, five were killed and 13 wounded. Government anti-aircraft guns in the area of Xeros opened fire against the attacking Turkish aircraft. One Turkish jet aircraft was said to have exploded in the air and crashed in the harbor, Turkish jet aircraft also attacked a road in area the same afternoon. 15* General Thimayya is in close touch with Government and Turkish Cypriot leaders and persistent attempts are being made to bring about a ceasefire. Wow that the agenda has been a dopted and before we start the discussion of the matter before the Council, I would like to inform the Members of the Council, on the basis of information provided to me by the Secretary-General, of the following. Throughout the present crisis in the island and with particular regard to the fighting between Government forces and Turkish Cypriote, General Thimayya, the Commander of the United Nations Force in Cyprus, has persistently been exerting every effort to avoid further bloodshed by bringing about a cease-fire wherever fighting has occurred. His efforts are continuing and he is keeping in close and constant touch with Government leaders and with the leaders of the Turkish Cypriot community for this purpose. These efforts have not yet met with success, however. Measures have also been taken by the Force to assist the Turkish Cypriot inhabitants who have fled from the various localities in the Kokkina-Mansoura area involved in the fighting and have sought the protection of the UNFICYP contingent in Mansoura. Assistance to these refugees as well as to the wounded has been discussed by General Thimayya with Government authorities and continues to be given to the refugees. '.* v f

In aij capacity a.§ president ©f tlie Couneil like t© enejwlr© wtet&©r tias outline of tlie 3.ttltiM© of tbg 0©un.ellp which I as:; about - t&e view® of the- a^sbers of the Cou Ootm&il lie® fer §©©.© ti&€

©f bDStiiit^ stiichJahas been, building up t£i© two ecjssusltias la Cjpr^s ead tlsis e situation in ^Q area.9 tli® Couacll t©rii£i*t asid fro® ©tlisr source® indicate that the s b©eos5@ s«?rl©usl^ aggrarate& during i last few ^«^rs3 aacl hours* Cor&alderable quant cdlltary equipment lias bse^ brcsugiit to t

sasad. in th© laat few h^urs also against th© id fs-Qis ta«s ©wtsisl®* Tiiese d8rslopr»ents .hava further th® difficult task facing tlic; UaitstS Sjprus0 fh®^ are not. la huriuonj with tae assc! to© spirit &f tl3,e past dscisio«.s of t&e Security C&y,n©il IK. regard to Cyprus » In tbi© pr^eeet QXtreisely daaig;orouES situation It m^uXcl net appear to be th© first task of the CotAaeil is ©at^a? lat© a, ds^st© ±si ®T&®T to ©©tsbllsh tte cause ascl effect ©f tlae actions ami counteractions leading up tcs tlaa present eiserg^seygi ©r to aportloa tao blai^ asaosg; the parti©s0 '.rft,e Oounoil wsiald thsr^fore at this sstage liiait itself I© di:rect an urgent

t ^«! ®f Kllitar^r lfe.ro© of aojr ki 2

to the 00v@rmt@nt of Cg-prue.sii^ to t r\. on th© island to syake the ear© to avoid j33^m»cmtiv© actions it' any utilise all seans available to urge r&atraint upon

f Oreeois to .4^ action is. th© present dangerous v miglit fUrt.fe.e-r agg2 s'rat© the situation? at© of both Creecs £ia4 furSc©^ to utilise all their influsssise v»lth tha iaeab@r£3 of both coMfeynitla® in Cyprus to psrsuad©

®d th® appoal direot©?! to tlism? aad t© take steps to safsguard that

tUs Couacll i© awaz-ef hom«v©rs that serious sncl i^te effort.® fiu:'® being isa4S' oa ths iaterBational i©vel to find a lasting solutiea t© the d©nflict» Those are responsible for the se^iatiag atte-apt,, -are

HOW pursuing their effort® with full fore©5 and have &©jj©S! tlist a peaael'iil solution might eventually ba arrive* at* It is 'the Ti@w of the Council that it is sssssntial tiiat tlie iaedlst-iag efforts ©houM fes aM ti*e GQianeil wwld therefor© appeal to all the parties® to make a supreme effort to coopigrate with these

O'lie Council assumee that the Secretary General vd.ll prepare and present to the Council an urgent report &n receat QTents in Cyprus, so that the Council v=- be furalahejS with the n-seessarj infora;atlonjtio ai©ke a »s&re «l©tail®€ study ©.f the satter later, In response to the request made in the Council the President of the Council, a report on the current fighting in Cyprus is "being urgently compiled and will be circulated to the Council as soon as it is ready, which I hope will he hy Monday 10 August. The President confirms my assumption that this report should deal exclusively with the incidents of military action which have occurred just preceding and during the present series of meetings of the Security Council, that is to say covering the period 5-9 August. The report will consist only of information provided by the Commander of the Force which he has been able to verify.

9 August A report on the current fighting in Cyprus is being urgently compiled and will be circulated to the Council as soon as it is ready, which I hope will be not later than Monday 10 August. This report will deal exclusively with the incidents of military action which have occurred just preceding and during the present series of meetings of the Security Council, that is to say covering the period 5-9 August. The report will consist TTai•j'Tlianiiii of information provided by the Commander of the Force which he has been able to verify.

9 August DRAFT

CYPRUS

The situation in Cyprus has taken a grave turn in the last forty-eight hours. Heavy fighting has broken out in the Kokkina- Mansoura area and there is a serious risk of similar outbreaks of hostilities in other areas where a high state of tension now prevails* Turkish jet aircraft have strafed various localities in the Tilleria area, and there is an imminent danger that the situation may deteriorate to the point of fatally endangering international peace and security in the region. Units of the Greek and Turkish contingents in Cyprus have left their usual stations and deployed tactically, thus adding to the already great dangers inherent in the situation. I am sure that your Government is aware of the tragic consequences that could result if the fighting is not brought to an immediate end. General Thimayya, the Commander of the United Nations Force in Cyprus, has been making every effort to bring the local fighting to a halt and will continue to do so, pursuant to the mandate conferred upon the Force by the Security Council. I wish now solemnly to address myself to you and your Government and, in the interest of securing peace in the island and of main- taining international peace and security, to request Your Excellency to call an immediate cease fire wherever hostilities have broken out, so that efforts at finding peaceful solutions to the various problems affecting the island may be pursued. I have addressed similar messages to the Prime Ministers of Greece and and to the Vice President of Cyprus. DRAFT

CYPRUS

The situation in Cyprus has taken a grave turn in the last forty-eight hours. Heavy fighting has broken out in the Kokkina- Kansoura area and there is a serious risk, of sijnilar outbreaks of hostilities in other areas where a high state of tension now prevails. Turkish jet aircraft have strafed various localities in the Tilleria area, and there is an imminent danger that the situation iaay deteriorate to the point of fatally endangering international peace and security in the region. Units of the Greek and Turkish contingents in Cyprus have left their usual stations and deployed tactically, thus adding to the already great dangers inherent in the situation. I am sure that your Government is aware of the tragic consequences that could result if the fighting is not brought to an immediate encL General Thimayya, the Commander of the United Nations Force in Cyprus, has been making every effort to bring the local fighting to a halt and will continue to do so, pursuant to the mandate conferred upon the Force by the Security Council. I wish now solemnly to address myself to you and your Government and, in the interest of securing peace in the island and of main- taining international peace and security, to request Your Excellency to call an immediate cease fire wherever hostilities have broken out, so that efforts at finding peaceful solutions to the various problems affecting the island may be pursued. I have addressed simlar messages to the Priiae Ministers of Greece and Turkey and to the Vice President of Cyprus. DHAFT

CYPRUS

The situation in Cyprus has taken a grave turn in the last forty-eight hours« Heavy fighting has broken out in the Kokkina- Kansoura area and there is a serious rist of similar outbreaks of hostilities in other areas where a high state of tension now prevails. Turkish jet aircraft have strafed various localities in the Tilleria area, and there is an imminent clanger that the situation may deteriorate to the point of fatally endangering international peace and aecurity in the region. Units of the Greek and Turkish contingents in Cyprus have left their usual stations and deployed tactically, thus adding to the already great dangers inherent in the situation. I am sure tliat your Government is aware of the tragic consequences that could result if the fighting is not brought to an iiaaediate endo General Thiffla3/yaa the Cejamander of the United

Hations Force in Cypruss has been taaking every effort to bring the local fighting to a halt and will continue to do sos pursuant to the Bandate conferred upon the Fore© by the Security Council. I vd.sh now solemnly to address ayself to you and your Government andy in the interest of securing peace in the island and of main- taining international peace and security, to request Tour Excellency to call an iEuaediate cease fire wherever hostilities have broken out, so that efforts at finding peaceful solutions to the various problems affecting the island may be pursued. I have addressed similar messages to the Priise Ministers of Greece and Turkey and to the Vice President of Cyprus.