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ARCHBISHOP MAKARIOS ON THE INVASION OF CYPRUS BY GREECE

INTRODUCTION

On Monday 15 July 1974 the ruling military junta in Greece staged a bloody coup in Cyprus with the collaboration of its supporters in order to achieve immediate Enosis (union with Greece). Makarios, whose aim was to achieve Enosis in the long term, was overthrown. The coupists proclaimed the establishment of "The Hellenic Republic of Cyprus" and installed Nicos Samson, a murderer, who was responsible for murders of many British and Turkish Cypriots in the 50s and 60s, as the president of this "Hellenic Republic".

During the coup more than 3000 Greek Cypriot supporters of Makarios and supporters of the Communist party AKEL were killed and an annihilation plan called AKRITAS was put into effect to exterminate Turkish Cypriot people.

The Archbishop, after escaping from the hands of the Greek soldiers and the Greek Cypriot terrorists went to New York to address the UN Security Council on Friday 19 July 1974.

In his speech, he accused Greece of usurping the democratic rights of both peoples of the island and the independence and sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus, and trying to extend its dictatorship to Cyprus.

Makarios, who also declared Greece as an invader said that the coup organised by the military regime of Greece on 15 July 1974 was put into effect by the Greek officers serving in and commanding the Cyprus National Guard. In his address Makarios confessed that this was a pre-planned act by Greece and the coupists did not hesitate in shedding blood in Cyprus to remove the obstacles on the way to Enosis.

Makarios, in his speech, called on the world to stop this bloodshed in Cyprus as soon as possible and he interpreted the situation in Cyprus as a 'real tragedy'.

Upon this call Turkey intervened in the island to fulfil its obligation under the Treaty of Guarantee. The Turkish intervention was upheld by the Standing Committee of the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe which admitted the legality of the Turkish Intervention in Cyprus and issued a resolution saying: "Turkey exercised its right of intervention in accordance with Article IV of the Treaty of Guarantee". (29th July J974)

Even the Athens Court of Appeal, in its decision of March 21, 1979, also held that the intervention of Turkey in Cyprus was legal: ".... The Turkish military intervention in Cyprus which was carried out in accordance with the Zurich and London Agreements was legal. Turkey, as one of the Guarantor powers, had the right to fulfil her obligations. The real culprits... are the Greek Officers who engineered and staged a coup and prepared the conditions for this intervention."
(Decision No. 2658/79 23 March 1979)

Greeks and Greek Cypriots, who continues to mislead the world opinion, tries to hide from the international community, their horrific attacks on the Turkish Cypriots in the 60s and claim that there was no problems in Cyprus prior to intervention by Turkey in1974.

Makarios, who was supposed to be the president of Greek and Turkish Cypriots, was himself responsible for bringing the Greek soldiers to Cyprus in 1964, which started the first invasion of Cyprus by Greece. When the Greek officers and soldiers turned against him in 1974, he personally declared Greece as an invader of the island. His speech below shows that it was Greece who invaded Cyprus in 1974.

Here we are publishing the full text of the speech by Makarios before the UN Security Council on 19th July 1974, unlike the fabrications of the Greek propaganda, this speech clearly shows that it was actually Greece that attempted the invasion of Cyprus using murderer Nicos Samson and the Greek officers stationed on the island.

The Speech by Makarios Delivered before the UN Security Council on 19 July 1974

President Makarios: I should like at the outset to express my warmest thanks to the members of the Security Council for the keen interest they have shown in the critical situation created in Cyprus after the coup, which was organised by the military regime of Greece and was put into effect by the Greek officers serving in and commanding the Cyprus National Guard. I am particularly grateful that the Security Council has agreed to postpone its meeting until my arrival here to give me the opportunity of addressing it on the recent dramatic events in Cyprus.

What has been happening in Cyprus since last Monday morning is a real tragedy. The military regime of Greece has callously violated the independence of Cyprus. Without trace of respect for the democratic rights of the Cypriot people, without trace of respect for the independence and sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus, the Greek junta has extended its dictatorship to Cyprus. It is indeed a fact that for some time now their intention was becoming obvious. The people of Cyprus had for a long time feeling that a coup by the Greek junta was brewing, and this feeling became more intense during the recent weeks when the terrorist organisation 'EOKA B', directed from Athens, had renewed its wave of violence.

I knew all along that the illegal organisation had its roots and supply resources in Athens. I became aware that the Greek officers staffing and commanding the National Guard were recruiting members for that organisation, and they supported it in various ways to the point of access to the munition supply stores of the National Guard. In the camps of the National Guard, the Greek officers were conducting open propaganda in favour of that illegal organisation and turned the National Guard from an organ of the state into an instrument of subversion. Whenever, from time to time, I complained to Athens about unbecoming conduct by Greek officers of the National Guard, the reply was that if I had concrete evidence in proof thereof those found guilty would be recalled. From the whole tenor of their attitude, I received the unmistakable impression that their standard response was a pretence of innocence. A few days ago documents came into the hands of the Cyprus police clearly proving that 'EOKA B' was an appendage of the Athens regime.

Part two of the speech will be published shortly