Greek Cypriot soldiers are taken prisoner by Turkish soldiers.
The National Intelligence Service (EYP) has announced that it has declassified some archive material on the Greek coup that led to a junta in Cyprus and the subsequent Turkish invasion 50 years ago, describing a – inside the historical events for the first time.
The news includes 58 edited reports compiled by intelligence service officers in July and August 1974 on the coup against Archbishop Makarios and the Turkish invasion that followed.
The move coincided with 50 years of events in Cyprus. The Greek-led coup provoked a Turkish invasion five days later and led to the division of Cyprus. It also comes as Greece and Turkey seek ways to improve relations through diplomacy.
“Fifty years is a very long time and therefore very safe, which allows you, even if it does not force you, to look back in a national exercise but also professional self-awareness,” said the director general of EYP. Themistoklis Demiris said.
Reports from early to mid-July 1974 focus almost entirely on simmering tensions between the military junta, which had seized power in Athens in 1967, and Cyprus.
Nicosia believed that Athens was meddling in its internal affairs and was behind the activities of EOKA B, a subversive paramilitary group that was planning at the time against the Cypriot government.
One report, dated July 2, 1974, refers to the “shrill” warnings of Cypriot officials who wanted the Greek military presence in Cyprus to be banned. Another expressed concern about a Communist takeover if the Greeks left.
“Talk of ousting Greek officials has caused fear and unease among nationalist-minded people of all social strata, because of the widely believed Communist threat that will emerge after for Greek officials to leave,” said one July 4 entry.
The junta staged a coup in Cyprus on July 15, which triggered Turkey’s invasion and occupation of the north of the island. Under the pressure of the Cyprus crisis, the Greek junta collapsed nine days later.
Subsequent reports focused on armed hostilities and military movements in Cyprus and Greece, which had issued a general evacuation alert as a result of the developments.
The EYP announcement marked the first time the organization has classified its archive material.
The publication can be viewed here. [Kathimerini, Reuters]
