WEEKLY REVIEW

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 05458961
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2022
• Document Release Date: August 30, 2018
• Case Number: F-2016-01647
• Publication Date: May 17, 1974

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7-0-19-SEG-REZ
CYPRUS: GROWING TENSIONS
Tensions have increased in Cyprus since the
adjournment on April 2 of the intercommunal
talks that have been going on for six years
between the Greek and Turkish Cypriots. On the
Greek Cypriot side, there have been renewed
clashes between supporters of President Makarios
and the followers of the late General George
Grivas, who advocate the union of Cyprus and
Greece (enosis). These pro-enosis forces enjoy the
support of elements of the Greek-officered
-TDP-S'ES-RE-T
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National Guard on the island. Relations between
the Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot com-
munities have also worsened.
Following General Grivas' death last Janu-
ary, members of EOKA-B, his pro-enosis terrorist
organization, became embroiled in a struggle over
who would succeed him and what strategy to
pursue. On April 22, a hard-line faction severely
beat and injured a group of Makarios sup-
porters�the first instance of EOKA-B violence
since the death of Grivas. Reacting strongly,
Makarios formally outlawed EOKA-B, set a dead-
line of April 27 for the general amnesty extended
to all wanted men in January, and announced his
determination to wipe out those remnants of
EOKA-B who remained in hiding. Only a few
turned themselves in before the deadline, thereby
setting the stage for more clashes.
Makarios has also been angered by a series of
arms thefts from national guard stores and by
anti-government incidents involving pro-enosis
elements of the national guard whom he suspects
are in collusion with EOKA-B. The latest incident
involved the theft of light weapons on May 7
from a national guard armory and their probable
transfer to EOKA-B. The theft will probably lead
Makarios to try again to restrict the activities of
the national guard and ultimately replace it with a
full-fledged Greek Cypriot army formed around
his personal military force. Makarios' determina-
tion to break the back of the remnants of EOKA-
B and his attempt to curb the national guard may
well p ompt a dispute with the Athens govern-
ment, which views these two elements as indis-
pensable tools for maintaining its influence in
Cyprus.
The intercommunal talks were suspended by
the Greek Cypriots when the Turkish Cypriot
negotiator refused to disavow Turkish Prime Min-
ister Ecevit's statement in late March calling for a
"federal" system of government for Cyprus.
Any system that would preclude majority
Greek Cypriot rule is anathema to Greek Cyp-
riots. They view it as the first step toward parti-
tion of the island. The Greek Cypriots charge that
the Turkish Cypriot side is attempting to modify
the terms of reference for the talks. According to
the Greek Cypriots, the terms of reference pro-
vided for a "unitary, independent, and sovereign"
Cypriot state.
The Turkish Cypriots claim that neither side
agreed to such terms of reference. They have
played down the Ecevit statement, however, in-
terpreting it to mean a functional type of feder-
alism rather than geographic separation of the
two communities.
Osorio Tafall, the UN special representative
in Cyprus, is attempting to get the talks resumed
on the basis of a mutually agreed formula. The
Makarios government rejected his first proposal as
too vague, and he is now making a second effort.
Although Makarios probably will permit the talks
to resume eventually, he appears to be in no
hurry. He hopes to extract concessions from the
Turkish Cypriots, who are more anxious to re-
open the talks. Their anxiety has been aroused by
the growth of anti-Turkish sentiment within the
Greek Cypriot community. This has been fueled
by the Ecevit statement and by the Greece-
Turkey dispute over Aegean oil exploration
rights, both of which are being exploited by the
pro-enosis Greek officers of the national guard.
Turkish Cypriots became especially alarmed after
an incident on May 9 in a mixed village when
national guardsmen harassed Turkish Cypriot
residents.
By stalling, Makarios is also protecting him-
self from accusation by national guard officers
and other pro-enosis elements that he is too ac-
commodating with the Turkish Cypriots. Because
tension between the two communities on the
island is usually reflected in relations between
their mainland sponsors, Makarios' abstention
from the talks could stir up trouble between
Athens and Ankara. This would distract the
Greek rulers and strengthen Makarios' hand
against their possible machinations, but it would
also further inflame intercommunal tensions on
the island.
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