CYPRUS SITUATION REPORT # 17

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06907722
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: July 13, 2023
• Document Release Date: March 2, 2022
• Case Number: F-2019-02114
• Publication Date: August 20, 1974

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TOP-SECRET
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
August 20, 1974
.INTELLIGENCE MEMORANDUM
CYPRUS
Situation Report Number 17
(As of 1600 EDT)
(All times cited are Nicosia time, unless other-
wise specified.)
PEACE TALKS
Foreign Secretary
Callaghan is planning to send invitations to the principals
in Greece, Turkey and Cyprus to meet in Geneva on August 2,7
or 28 to resume peace talks. Earlier today, a Foreign
Office spokesman told the press that the British High Coin-,
missioner in Nicosia had approached Cypriot President
Clerides yesterday on the possibility of resuming talks.
TURKISH INTENTIONS
2.
3. There are now about 36,000 Turkish mainland troops
on Cyprus. This includes an additional 4,000 that arrived
during the second round of hostilities. Plans are being
implemented to winter on Cyprus and the Turks have no in-
tention of withdrawing before next spring. They do not,
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however, plan to annex the territory .they control. Cur-
rent political planning is still centered on establishing
a federal system.
4. Deputy Prime Minister Erbahan was quoted today
as saying a Turkish Cypriot federal State will be uni-
laterally established in Cyprus if there is an extended
delay in getting the peace talks started. He said some
state services--postal and passport facilities--should
start functioning immediately.
FALLOUT FROM GREEK ARMY RESHUFFLE
6. In his initial comments to his general staff on
August 19, General Dionysios Arbouzis, the new commander
in chief of the Greek armed forces, appealed for objec-
tivity and cooperation despite the bitterness, contusion,
damaged honor, and even hatred caused by the public posi.r
tions taken by Greece's traditional allies. Arbouzis
stressed that since Greece is still threatened with in-
transigence and possibly further demands from Turkey, the
armed forces should maintain strict military discipline
and high professional standards.
7. The US embassy reports that General Arbouzis had
an outstanding record prior to his retirement in 1967 and
that his service at SHAPE, in addition tO Cyprus and
Korea, gives him unusually varied international exper-
ience. The new commander in chief was not an active
opponent of either ex-President Papadopoulos or General
Ioannidis, and his appointment is therefore less likely
to stimulate resentment among remaining supporters of
the two men. The embassy considers Lt. General
Gratztos, who is now in command of the Third Corps in
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TOP
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Thrace, the most effective and best qualified general
now serving.
8. According to the embassy, the timing of the
changes in the army clearly reflect the fact that--as
announced by Prime Minister Karamanlis in his August 15
speech--Greece was not prepared for a military showdown
with the Turks in Cyprus. Any changes prior to that de-
cision would have been dangerously destabilizing, and
the movement out of Athens on August 11 of troop units
which could have been used for a military coup was an
essential prerequiste to the changes. It is widely
anticipated that General Ioannidis will be passed over
for promotion, thus leading to his automatic retirement,
and removing him from the threatening position of influ-
ence he still maintains.
9. In commenting on the new aesignments in the
Greek army, the US defense attache concluded that, in
general, officers with good military qualifications
had been placed in key field and staff positions Re
also noted that General LaMbros Sta*hopoulos, ex-
director of the Greek central intelligence agency,
which had been heavily infiltrated with Ioannidis
supporters, had been transferred far from Athens to
head "A" corps in northern Greece.
GREECE-YUGOSLAV RELATIONS
10. a Greek
minister Said yesterday that Amens mad just signed a
"defense pact" with Yugoslavia. A formal defense pact
seems unlikely. Tito may well have assured the Greeks--
through his personal emissary, Foreign Minister Minic--
that there would be no trouble on their common borders.
Greece gave Yugoslavia similar assurances after the
Soviets invaded Czechoslovakia. Belgrade probably is
anxious to create a climate in which the Greeks will not
find it necessary to resume military ties with NATO.
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T
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CYPRUS
INUK Sovereign base area
0 10 0
MILES
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ET
COMMENTS FROM MAKARIOS
11.
CYPRUS ARRESTS
12. The French news a ency, citing a British Forces
radio broadcast from Cypru , reported today that three
people have been arrested in connection with the killing
of Ambassador Davies. The British radio said that the
three people had no links xtith any group.
DENKTASR RETURNS
130
MILITARY SITUATION
14. No significant fighting was reported on Cyprus
today. A few firing incidents were reported #1 the
Nicosia area. UN reports. indicate that Turkish forces
were responsible for at least two of the incidents. A
Turkish commander on the Kirpas Peninsula gave the UN
commander there an ultimat4m to withdraw from two out-
posts by midnight. If theiUN does not comply, the
Turkish leader said he would not be responsible for the
lives of the UN personnel.
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15.
ON THE MAINLAND
16. The US defense att
a ferry carrying tanks and
arrived in Crete late last
ferry that has been sighted
to the island in the past f
17. The US defense att
some 500 Turkish troops--pr
fantry division from Adapoz
truck through Karamursel to
ultimate destination of the
but, so far, the move does
an impending offensive.
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY
che in Athens reports that
rated military equipment
ight. This is the sixth
bringing troops or supplies
w days. '
che in Ankara reports that
bably part of the 2nd in-
ri--move'4 southwest by
ard Bursa yesterday. The
unit has not been determined,
ot appear to be related to
18. Representatives of the EC Nine met in Paris
yesterday to review the Cyprus situation. 4 consensus
supported a bi-regional federation as holding the best
promise for a lasting solution on the island. The Nine
will evidently let the British pursue their diplomatic
initiatives without further] joint demarches in the name
of the community. Individually, they agreed to inform
Ankara of their "earnest hope" for no further advances
of Turkish troops.
19. The Nine clearly want to show some understanding
of Athens' present plight. The most obvious way to do
this would be to resume the EC's negotiations with Athens
over Greece's status as an associate, but the absence
of a freely elected government in Athens posed diffi-
culties for Brussels. The Nine will look for some
"practical formula" to permit reconvening the negotiations
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The president of the European Parliament is already
in Athens discussing association matters with Greek
officials.
20. The Nine agreed to
relief, for Cyprus through.t
of the Red Cross. They wil
meeting tomorrow of the Coq
which already has under its,
could be used 'for disaster'
"do something" on disaster
e International Committee
alsO attend a special.
cil of lirope's Assembly,
jurisdiction a fund that
relief,
The next situation., report will be published at 1600 (EDT)
tomorrow unless events varrant additional coverage.
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