Title |tems-in-Peace-keeping operations - Cyprus

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Title |tems-in-Peace-keeping operations - Cyprus - background noteson 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-upof 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. 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 Kato Pyrgos 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 Couneillike 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 CouOotm&il lie® fer §©©.© ti&€

©f bDStiiit^ stiichJahas been, building upt£i© two ecjssusltias la Cjpr^s ead tlsis

e situation in ^Q area.9tli® Couacll t©rii£i*t asid

fro® ©tlisr source® indicate that thes b©eos5@ s«?rl©usl^ aggrarate& during i

last few ^«^rs3 aacl hours* Cor&alderable quantcdlltary equipment lias bse^ brcsugiit to t

sasad. in th© laat few hûrs also against th©id fs-Qis ta«s ©wtsisl®* Tiiese d8rslopr»ents .hava further

th® difficult task facing tlic; UaitstSSjprus0 fh®^ are not. la huriuonj with taeassc! to© spirit &f tl3,e past dscisio«.s of

t&e Security C&y,n©il IK. regard to Cyprus »In tbi© prêeet QXtreisely daaig;orouES situation

It mûXcl net appear to be th© first task of the CotAaeilis ©atâ? lat© a, ds^st© ±si ®T&®T to ©©tsbllsh tte causeascl effect ©f tlae actions ami counteractions leadingup tcs tlaa present eiserg^seygi ©r to aportloa tao blaiâsaosg; the parti©s0 '.rft,e Oounoil wsiald thsr^fore atthis 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 tr\.

on th© island to syake the

ear© to avoid j33^m»cmtiv© actions it' anyutilise all seans available to urge r&atraint upon

f Oreeois to.4^ action is. th© present dangerousmiglit fUrt.fe.e-r agg2vs'rat© the situation ?

at© of bothCreecs £ia4 furSc©^ to utilise all their influsssise v»lththa iaeab@r£3 of both coMfeynitla® in Cyprus to psrsuad©

®d th® appoal direot©?! to tlism? aad t© takesteps to safsguard that <as further ailitas^ris broiAjg&t; from t'lieir rospectlTe tsrriiorie©

to 0;fp.rus»In spit© ©f the critical situation IB the area

tUs Couacll i© awaz-ef hom«v©rs that serious sncl i^teeffort.® fiu:'® being isa4S' oa ths iaterBational i©vel tofind a lasting solutiea t© the d©nflict» Thoseare responsible for the seîatiag atte-apt,, -areHOW pursuing their effort® with full fore©5 andhave &©jj©S! tlist a peaael'iil solution might eventuallyba arrive* at*

It is 'the Ti@w of the Council that it issssssntial tiiat tlie iaedlst-iag efforts ©houM fesaM 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 Generalvd.ll prepare and present to the Council an urgentreport &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

C Y P R U S

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 Turkey and to the Vice President

of Cyprus.

DRAFT

C Y P R U S


forty-eight hours. Heavy fighting has broken out in the Kokkina-

Kansoura area and there is a serious risk, of sijnilar outbreaks of


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



the situation. I am sure that your Government is aware of the


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,


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

C Y P R U S


forty-eight hours« Heavy fighting has broken out in the Kokkina-

Kansoura area and there is a serious rist of similar outbreaks of


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



the situation. I am sure tliat your Government is aware of the


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,


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.

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Title |tems-in-Peace-keeping operations - Cyprus