Greek Cypriot soldiers are taken prisoner by Turkish troops.
The National Intelligence Service (EYP) has announced that it has declassified some archival material on the Greek junta-inspired coup in Cyprus and the subsequent Turkish invasion 50 years ago, giving an inside account of the historic events for the first time.
The release comprises 58 redacted 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 the 50th anniversary of events on Cyprus. The Greek-led coup prompted 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 quite a long and therefore quite safe period of time, which, even if it doesn’t force you to, allows you to look back in an exercise of national but also of professional self-awareness,” EYP director-general 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 considered that Athens was interfering in its internal affairs and was behind the activities of EOKA B, a subversive paramilitary group plotting at the time against the Cypriot government.
One report, dated July 2, 1974, recounts the “shrill” warnings of Cypriot officials who wanted the Greek military presence on Cyprus to be curbed. Another expressed concern about a Communist takeover should the Greeks leave.
“Talk of expelling Greek officers has sown fear and disquiet among nationalist-minded people of all social strata, because of the Communist risk which is widely believed to manifest itself after Greek officers leave,” one entry on July 4 said.
The junta orchestrated a coup in Cyprus on July 15, triggering Turkey’s invasion and its occupation of the north of the island. Under the weight of the Cyprus crisis, Greece’s junta collapsed nine days later.
Subsequent reports focused on military hostilities and army movements in Cyprus and Greece, which had issued a general mobilisation alert in the wake of the developments.
An EYP announcement pointed out that this was the first time the agency has declassified its archival material.
The release can be viewed here. [Kathimerini, Reuters]