366 Chapter 3
Greek Cypriots. Cyprus president Makarios responded by threatening to order attacks
on strongholds of Turkish Cypriots if Turkey attacked.
Coding changes: Start Date changed from March 16, 1965. End Date changed from
March 16, 1965.
MID#1280
Dispute Number: 1280
Date(s): November 17, 1967 to December 1, 1967
Participants: 640 Turkey/350 Greece, 352 Cyprus
Outcome (and Settlement): Compromise (Negotiated)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: Civilian Greek Cypriot patrols had clashed with Turkish Cypriots in early
- The patrols ended in July to let the situation settle, and negotiations began
under UN mediation in November for them to resume. However, in mid-November
the Cypriot national guard moved troops toward Ayios Theodoros, a mixed Turkish-
Greek Cypriot village, forcibly disarmed British personnel serving in UNFICYP, the
UN peacekeeping force in Cyprus, and disabled British radios. A national guard com-
mander gave 20 minutes’ notice to UNFICYP that the patrols would resume. Later
that day a patrol made its way through the village without incident. On the morning
of the 15th another patrol finished without incident, but in the afternoon two patrols
encountered gunfire. The national guard then launched attacks on Ayios Theodoros
and Kophinou, a nearby Turkish Cypriot village, before leaving.
On November 17, the Turkish Grand National Assembly authorized the use of force
by a vote of 433 to 1. Turkish reconnaissance flights over Cyprus increased, and the
Turkish military amassed troops across the water.
On November 22, the UN secretary-general called on Greece, Turkey, and Cyprus
to exercise restraint and sent personal representatives to each capital. The same day
US President Johnson appointed Cyrus Vance as a special envoy. Vance engaged in
shuttle diplomacy for two weeks to avoid war. On November 24, the UN Security
Council announced consensus (without formal vote) in calling on the three involved
states to avoid war. That same day the NATO secretary-general offered his services
as a mediator. Part of the negotiations revolved around public perceptions. Cyprus,
for instance, drafted a statement for the UN secretary-general to release that called on
the parties to resolve their differences. On December 1, Greece and Turkey reported
that they had reached an agreement, but they did not make the agreement public and
Cyprus did not sign. The Cypriot government continued to demand the withdrawal of
all non-Cypriot troops from its territory.
Coding changes: Start Date changed from November 16, 1967.
MID#1293
Dispute Number: 1293
Date(s): July 15, 1974 to August 16, 1974
Participants: 640 Turkey/350 Greece, 352 Cyprus
Outcome (and Settlement): Victory for side A (Imposed)