UN Secretariat Item Scan - Barcode - Record Title Page Date Time 37 02/06/2006 12:09:14 PM S-0869-0003-08-00001 Expanded Number S-0869-0003-08-00001 Title |tems-in-Peace-keeping operations - Cyprus - background notes on reports of build-up of arms and troops in Cyprus, July 1964 Date Created 14/07/1964 Record Type Archival Item Container S-0869-0003: Peace-Keeping Operations Files of the Secretary-General: U Thant: Cyprus Print Name of Person Submit Image Signature of Person Submit
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UN Secretariat Item Scan - Barcode - Record Title PageDateTime
3702/06/200612:09:14 PM
S-0869-0003-08-00001
Expanded Number S-0869-0003-08-00001
Title |tems-in-Peace-keeping operations - Cyprus - background noteson reports of build-up of arms and troops in Cyprus, July 1964
Date Created 14/07/1964
Record Type Archival Item
Container S-0869-0003: Peace-Keeping Operations Files of the Secretary-General: U Thant: Cyprus
Print Name of Person Submit Image Signature of Person Submit
14 July 1964
Background notes on reports of build-upof arms and troops in Cyprus
As stated in the Secretary-General's report to the Security Council
(3/5764) of 15 June 1964* the build-up of military personnel and equipment
on both sides in Cyprus has become a cause for increasing concern in recent
weeks. This activity, on both sides, has not only continued since the
presentation of that report, but appears rather definitely to have increased.
On the Greek Cypriot side, the influx of arms, equipment and personnel,
mostly through the port of Limassol, has been more or less overt, and some
information of this nature has been confirmed to UNFICYP by Greek Cypriot
authorities. Incoming personnel since 1 June are known to include 600 Greek
Cypriot servicemen returning from colour service in the Greek Army, and some
2,000 Greek Cypriot students together with a few volunteers returning from
study abroad, of whom some few may have been non-Cypriot Greeks. It would
appear that a proportion of these students had, to some extent, organized
themselves while abroad, and many may have had military training while in
Greece. In addition, it is reported that 400 ex-service officers and NCOs
of the Greek Army have arrived as instructors. These arrivals add up to a
total of between 3 000 and 3,1+00 men. The figures given by the Greek Cypriot
authorities approximate the figures established by direct observation by
UNFICIP. / a jHtefceifl., On 3 July, a routine relief of the Greek Army contingent
in Cyprus was carried out, with UW observers present, through the port of
Famagusta; 407 personnel arrived and 439 departed.
Training under national guard auspices of recruits, called up under
- 2 -
the conscription law, has been ovserved in a number of areas in the
Island, including Boghaz, Famagusta, Larnaca and the Troodos-Paphos
forest. No effort has been made to c'onceal these activities o'SC the
weapons in these training areas, which include twenty-eight 25 pounder
field guns, eight Bofors and twelve 3.7 anti-aircraft guns, and
fourteen anti-tank guns of the 17 pounder and 6 pounder typs. It is
emphasized by the Greek Cjrpriot authorities that these activities are
with a view to meeting external threats and are not related to the
internal situation on the Island.
On the Turkish Cypriot side, information is from UKFICYP observation
only and is, therefore, far less detailed and comprehensive. There have
been reports of arrivals both of personnel and of arms and ammunition in
the Mansoura areaj the estimated number of persons infiltrating being
between 250 and 300. Activities have also been observed from vessels off
the coast in the Kokkina area where debarkation of stores and small numbers
of personnel up to approximately 200 have been observed or reported.
Specifically, on the night of 25 June four or five fishing boats brought
ammunition and supplies ashore from a trawler, while on 27 June ten young
men were landed from a fast torpedo boat, which I disembarked 30-35 men
in the same area on the night of 28 June.
There is at present no evidence to support the far larger figures given
for surreptitious arrivals of Greek military personnel in Cyprusj nor of
the supposed arrival of considerably more than 20JO Turks.
SUMMAEY OF MILITARY ACTION IN CYPRUS, 5-8 AUGUST 196
1. On 5 August 5, General K. S. Thimayya, Commander UNFICYP, reported
that the situation in Nicosia City and in the Mansoura - Kokkina area
was very tense. Subsequently, fighting broke out in the Mansoura -•*y<tV*JTAsv*-»A*Jr ~f++<A s'
Kokkina area when/GgeoIi Cypriote opened fire against the Turkish
Cypriots near Ayios Theodores } and there were reports of heavy shooting
in various places in the island.
2. In Nicosia, Turkish Cypriots built a number of provocative
positions near the Green Line overlooking the Greek Cypriot shopping
area, and established a new roadblock near the junction of Ledra and
Paphos Streets. In this sane vicinity, the government National Guard
occupied a shop. These moves increased tension in the walled city"£p-/tL& x/
and firing broke out between the two communities. Groolt Cypri&fes
reported one killed and three wounded on their side. United Nations
troops established a screen between the National Guard and Turkish
Cypriot positions while negotiations vrere in progress to obtain the
removal of the positions and to stop the firing.
3. On 6 August, both sides agreed to the removal of their new positions
in Nicosia, and the recently constructed defences were dismantled by
United Nations troops. That afternoon about 50 Turkish National
Contingent troops in battle order and fully armed entered the walled
city. Reports indicate that they may take up positions on the Green
Line. Heavy firing soon broke out in the area of the Ledra Palace Hotel
Paphos Street which appeared to have been started by Greek Cypriots.
In the evening, buses were seen outside the Greek National Contingent
Camp. One Infantry company from this contingent had taken up defensive
positions north of their camp, which appeared to be deserted.
k. Later in the evening of the sixth, 100 armed National Guard troops
were seen moving towards Nicosia. During the night, all lights along
the Green Line in the walled city were out, and there was a sporadic
exchange of fire.
-2-
5. During the last fortnight, UNFICYP had reported the presence of
two Government patrol boats based at Kyrenia, operating in the vicinity
of Kokkina - Mansoura. On 5 August, a Government boat patrolling the
area off Mansoura was fired at from this village. The boat returned
four shots with an anti-aircraft gun. On 5 August, a Government patrol
boat was again reported offshore from Kokkina. The movement of these
boats caused considerable tension in the area, resulting in sporadic shooting
between National Guard and Turkish Cypriot positions in the high ground in
the vicinity.
6. On 5 August, National Guardsmen opened fire on Turkish Cypriots in
the Ayios Theodores area. The National Guardsmen used a few rounds of
106 mm recoilless rifles and 60 mm mortars. Turkish Cypriots in return
fired two rounds of 80 mm rocket launchers. United Nations troops
intervened and negotiations resulted in a cease-fire early in the evening.
But a few hours later firing broke out again and continued throughout the
day of 6 August.
7- Meanwhile, National Guardsmen and Police sealed off the Turkish
Cypriot quarter in Ktima and cut the water supply. During the day of
6 August more firing broke out at several other places on the island,
particularly ia the Kyrenia, Dikhomo, Potamia, Temblos, Tylliria and
Mandres Hamid areas - and also in the suburbs of Nicosia.
8. While attempts were being made by the Commander to arrange a cease-
fire in the Kokkina - Mansoura area, shooting continued through 7 August.
During the afternoon, heavy firing was reported in the Piyenia - Ayios
Theodores - Mansoura area. Armoured cars of the National Guard were
observed advancing towards the village of Pakhy Amos. Mortars of the
National Guard opened fire in the Mosphileri area. General Thimayya
reported that a build-up of National Guard had continued since the day
before and a number of vehicle convoys were reported to have been seen in
the area.*-*
9. On 7 August, two/G-r-ooIc Gypriot patrol boats fired 50 round of 40 mm
shells at Kokkina and about 20 shells at Mansoura. By midday, the
National Guard in Piyenia opened heavy fire in the direction of Ayios
Theodores. That afternoon, a National Guard company supported by armoured
-3-
ceirs advanced from Pakhy Amos towards Turkish positions. Six
25 pounder guns were positioned in Pomos. UNFICYP efforts to
arrange a local cease-fire proved fruitless. Negotiations, however,
continued at the highest level in Nicosia. Meanwhile Turkish Cypriote
requested United Nations assistance in evacuating women and children
from Mansoura. Some 200 took refuge in the United Nations' camp.
Turkish Cypriot fighters were moving into Kokkina and evacuation of
women and children from Mansoura had started.
10. In the early evening of 7 August, k Turkish Airforce get fighters
flew over Polis firing guns out to sea. It was reported that there
was no firing against ground targets.
11. Fighting continued in the Mansoura - Kokkina area during the
night of 7-8 August. On the afternoon of the eighth, artillery deployed
in Pomos area opened fire against Kokkina. Subsequently on that date,
the villages of Ayios Theodores, Alevga and Mansoura were occupied by
Government forces. Fighting was continuing in the area around the
village of Kokkina according to last UNFICYP reports on the eighth.
12. During the afternoon of the eighth, a United Nations helicopter
was sent to the Kokkina area in order to evacuate a detachment of the
Swedish Contingent of UNFICYP which was in an exposed post on the hill
between Pakhy Ammos and Kokkina, which was under heavy mortar fire.
An officer of the Swedish Contingent went to Pomos to negotiate a cease-
fire that would enable the United Nations post and also the women and
children in Kokkina to be evacuated. This request for a cease-fire
was rejected by the local authorities. The helicopter then flew to the
ridge and evacuated the United Nations soldiers, and in doing so came
under fire. The evacuation of women and children from Kokkina began
on the afternoon of the eighth by means of UNFICYP armored cars.
IJ. On the afternoon of the eighth, it was reported that aircraft
identified as belonging to the Turkish air force attacked National Guard
positions around Kokkina. A few minutes later three Turkish aircraft
attacked the same positions with rockets.
lU. It was later reported that also on the eighth Turkish aircraft had
attacked a Government patrol boat in the harbour at Xeros. The boat was
reported to
have been disabled and the crew was said to have abandoned it. Of the
crew, five were killed and 13 wounded. Government anti-aircraft
guns in the area of Xeros opened fire against the attacking Turkish
aircraft. One Turkish jet aircraft was said to have exploded in the
air and crashed in the harbor, Turkish jet aircraft also attacked
a road in Kato Pyrgos area the same afternoon.
15* General Thimayya is in close touch with Government and Turkish
Cypriot leaders and persistent attempts are being made to bring
about a ceasefire.
Wow that the agenda has been a dopted and before we start the
discussion of the matter before the Council, I would like to inform
the Members of the Council, on the basis of information provided
to me by the Secretary-General, of the following.
Throughout the present crisis in the island and with particular
regard to the fighting between Government forces and Turkish Cypriote,
General Thimayya, the Commander of the United Nations Force in Cyprus,
has persistently been exerting every effort to avoid further bloodshed
by bringing about a cease-fire wherever fighting has occurred. His
efforts are continuing and he is keeping in close and constant touch
with Government leaders and with the leaders of the Turkish Cypriot
community for this purpose. These efforts have not yet met with
success, however.
Measures have also been taken by the Force to assist the Turkish
Cypriot inhabitants who have fled from the various localities in the
Kokkina-Mansoura area involved in the fighting and have sought the
protection of the UNFICYP contingent in Mansoura. Assistance to
these refugees as well as to the wounded has been discussed by General
Thimayya with Government authorities and continues to be given to
O'lie Council assumee that the Secretary Generalvd.ll prepare and present to the Council an urgentreport &n receat QTents in Cyprus, so that the Council
v=-be furalahejS with the n-seessarj infora;atlonjtio