In July, Cyprus recalls the most tragic events of his recent history. On July 15, 1974, a coup d'etat against the legal government of Archbishop Makarios took place. This led to the Turkish invasion and occupation of the northern part of the island, the beginning of which was laid only five days after the coup - July 20.
Diapass
On July 15, 1974, EOKA-B, with the help of the Cyprus National Guard and the Greek Armed Forces in Cyprus, arranged a coup d'etat, overthrowing Makarios, and putting Nikos Sampson in its places.
Putchists seized the metropolitan airport, radio station, the presidential palace, a number of administrative institutions in Nicosia and established their power. All this gave Turkey an occasion in order to start the invasion. Under the pretext of the impossibility of a peaceful settlement of the conflict and the protection of the Turko-Kiro community, the Turkish government introduced its troops into Cyprus.
The peculiarity of Cyprus independence was that the three countries - the UK, Greece and Türkiye - acted as its guarantors. There are 99 square miles or 2% of the island on which the British military bases remained behind the UK. The United Kingdom also retained the right to leave a radar at the top of Troodos, control the sea and airspace of its bases and conduct exercises on Akamas.
Garant countries had to ensure the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus, preventing the division of the country or its accession to another state. In the event of a violation of the Great Britain, Greece and Türkiye Agreement, joint actions should have taken joint actions to restore the constitutional system.
If joint actions were impossible, then each of the three countries had the right to act unilaterally.
Actions in accordance with the plans and article 4 of the Cyprus status agreements agreed back in 1960 began on July 20. Officially, Türkiye qualified what was happening as a “peacekeeping operation”.
In the interval between the truce and the beginning of negotiations, the Turks continued to strengthen their positions. During the discussion, the Greeks were offered a common Cyprus with the federal system, and the Turks autonomy in the north and five small in the island, which were supposed to cover a total of 34% of the territory, 70% of industry and minerals, 80% of tourist infrastructure, 65% of the cultivated land.
On the afternoon of July 19, one of the prominent figures of the Athenian junta confidently told the American ambassador Taska that Türkiye would not send troops to Cyprus and will reconcile with the coup and Sampson regime. On July 19, the Greek dictator of Joannidis even thought to resign the head of his intelligence, Lieutenant General Lambros Stapopoulos, who was very upset by constant reports on the imminent and inevitable Turkish invasion of Cyprus. The greater shock for politicians around the world was the release of the BBC news at 8 p.m. on July 19, 1974, which showed a report on the departure from the Turkish port of the Mersin of the airborne fleet.
Operation "Atilla"
July 20
The landing of the sea landing is 5-7 km west of Cyrian.
The Turkish landing landing included one CAKMAK infantry brigade and the Marine Corps regiment, the total number of 3,500 people, 12 guns, 15 M47 tanks and 20 BTR M113.
At the same time, the airborne assaults were thrown out at the Nicosia Airport.
The Turkish Navy blocked the ports of Limassol from pathos and prevented the transfer of the Greek troops by the sea.
July 21
The battle between the Turkish and Greek Navy in the area of Paphos, during which, thanks to the work of Cyprus intelligence, the Turkish fleet suffered heavy losses.
During the tense bloody battles, Turkish troops took possession of Kerinia, Nicosia Airport and established control over the road between the capital and the seaport.
July 22
In accordance with the UN resolution No. 353, the provision on a temporary ceasefire entered into force. At the same time, negotiations were conducted in Geneva between Great Britain, Greece and Turkey with the participation of the USSR and the USA. However, this attempt to solve the Cyprus issue in the framework of NATO failed due to the requirements of the Turkish side to distinguish 34% of the island to create a state of Turkish-kipriots. The next day, July 23, Nikos Sampson was forced to resign and transfer the authority to the chairman of the parliament Glafkos Clerydis.
August 14
In order to expand the captured territory, Turkish troops resumed an offensive from the Nicosia region to East and the West, aviation struck the troops, radio stations and other important objects of the Greeks-kypriots in the capital.
August 16
Turkish troops entered the so -called "Attila" line proposed by the Turkish government as a border between the Turkish and Greek units of the island.
August 18
The fire was stopped. As a result of these events, Turkish troops occupied about 37% of the island. According to the UN, the total number of displaced Greeks-kypriots was 198 thousand people, 37 thousand people.
In 1974-1975, the “exchange” of the population was held: the Turks-kipriotes almost completely moved to the part of the Cyprus occupied by the Turkish forces, and the Greeks-Cypriots to the south of the island.
1975. The “administration” of the occupied territories unilaterally proclaimed Cyprus by the Turkish federal state.
1983. The so -called “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus” was proclaimed, but only Türkiye recognized this state.
According to international law, the Republic of Cyprus retains sovereignty over the entire territory, which was part of it until 1974. The EU also recognizes its sovereignty over the entire territory, believing that the North of the island is temporarily outside the control of the legal government.
April 26, 2004. At the referendum, by solving the Cyprus problem, which was held under the auspices of the UN, 75.8% of the Greeks-kipris voted against, believing that this plan does not provide for the unification of the island, but the recognition of the results of the intervention and occupation.
In memory of the tragic events of the “Black July” of 1974, sirens sound in Cyprus: 15.07 at 8:20 and 20.07 - at 5:30 in the morning.
This article was first published in the "Vestnik Cyprus" on July 15, 2024. Part of the information could be outdated.
