UN Secretariat Item Scan - Barcode - Record Title Page 37 Date 02/06/2006 Time 12:09:14 PM S-0869-0003-08-00001 Expanded Number S-0869-0003-08-00001 Title |tems-in-Peace-keeping operations - Cyprus - 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 Limassol, 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 Greece. 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-Paphos 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 Kokkina 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 Nicosia City and in the Mansoura - Kokkina area was very tense. Subsequently, fighting broke out in the Mansoura - •*y<tV*JTAsv*-»A*Jr ~f++<A^s' Kokkina area when/GgeoIi Cypriote opened fire against the Turkish Cypriots near Ayios Theodores} and there were reports of heavy shooting in various places in the island. 2. In Nicosia, Turkish Cypriots 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 Greek Cypriots. 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, Alevga 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.