With the wounds still fresh from the invasion of July 20, 1974 and with the negotiations in Geneva seeming to be headed for a wreck, the Cypriot press on the morning of August 14, 1974, the day the second phase of the Turkish invasion began, wrote of “war fever” and for an alert in Greece, Turkey, Cyprus.
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On Wednesday, August 14, 1974, "Agon" entitled “War fever – Alert in Greece, Turkey and Cyprus” it referred to diplomatic actions at the international level, in order to prevent conflict between Greece and Turkey. He also wrote about the possibility of the collapse of the Geneva Conference and “the Turks' insistence on completely unacceptable and humiliating claims for the Greek side”.
On the front page of the newspaper, an open letter was published “to Dr. Henry Kissinger”, signed by the “Greeks of Cyprus”, in which they stated that Turkey's invasion of Cyprus is “real dynamite, which will detonate everything in Cyprus and outside Cyprus”, noting that the defense of Cyprus not only serves the cause of law and freedom, but also the real interests of the USA.
Elsewhere, the newspaper reports warnings from Greece that it will send forces to Cyprus, warning Turkey and other NATO allies that it "will not stand idly by if it (Turkey) insists on its uncompromising line on Cyprus" .
On the same day, the "Battle" in its main topic entitled “All possible Soviet help was sought, as revealed in Geneva by Mr. Cleridis”, it refers to a war alert “each” they left the country” and the possibility of sending military force from Greece to Cyprus. He reports that in Geneva, President Cleridis asked for "all kinds of help from the country" towards Cyprus, while information from Athens reported that Greek troops were deployed along the border to Turkey from the islands of the Eastern Aegean.
Elsewhere on the front page, the newspaper writes that “Famochos will not be Turkified, despite the bombings and the sufferings”, as this is “guaranteed by the children of our homeland”. Elsewhere, the "Battle" refers to a message from Kissinger to Karamanlis, in which he asked for "restraint" from Greece.
The newspaper also publishes a "revealing and shocking deposition of the Turkish KYP", in which it is stated that "we had tricked your Former President" and that “we convinced him to expel the Greek officers”.
"The Liberal" wrote the day of b' phase of the invasion, that “the Turks are blackmailingly demanding an agreement on their plan”, noting that they are asking for cantons and 33% of Cyprus, for the creation of two federal states in Cyprus. He also mentions that Kissinger “recommends Greece a compromise”. In another matter, it states that UNFICYP is “on alert” and that “the mechanism for the evacuation of foreigners has been activated again”.
Elsewhere, the newspaper talks about the government's advances on the matter of prisoners, stating that lists of all the Turkish prisoners were given and that it is “ready to proceed with their release”, in the hope that the Turkish side will respond with a similar gesture. . Also, the newspaper publishes a declaration by the “citizens of Famagusta”, entitled “All cooperation is required for the sake of the national survival of Cyprus”.
The "Dawn" conveys, in its main topic, statements of the General Secretary of Hezekiah Papaioannou, after the session of the political office of the party, noting that "AKEL requests that the Security Council be convened immediately" and to take measures for the faithful implementation of its resolution. He also appeals to all countries “who love peace and freedom to act together for the salvation of Cyprus and peace”, noting that Soviet support is certain. Internally, he calls for solidarity and the legal democratic order to prevail.
In another matter, the newspaper carries a statement from the government representative, according to which the “barbaric acts of the Turkish invaders are indisputable”. He notes, elsewhere, that Greece may send troops to Cyprus if Turkish intransigence continues, recording that a series of military meetings are taking place in Athens and Ankara.
Elsewhere, "Haravgi" refers to “shocking revelations by G. Mavros”, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece, who said that “the Junta had disappeared after the Turkish invasion!”, speaking of a devastating account of the dictatorial regime.
< p data-block-key="eqqnt">The English-language "Cyprus Mail" on August 14 he wrote that Turkey gave Greece a 24-hour ultimatum on Cyprus to agree to its proposal for the future of Cyprus, while rejecting a British proposal to postpone the peace talks for 36 hours. And the "Cyprus Mail" states that Greece may decide to send troops to Cyprus.
In another matter the paper reports that Kissinger was accused by the Washington Post of "mismanagement" of the Cyprus issue, as well as that he refused to apply serious pressure to Turkey to stop its invasion of Cyprus. Reference is also made to Kissinger's message to Karamanlis, with the newspaper stating that its contents have not been made known, but diplomatic sources speculate that it called on Greece to exercise restraint.
The newspaper also notes that the UN forces put Nicosia on alert.
The newspapers reported on the morning of Wednesday, August 14, that on Thursday, August 15, no they would circulate, as it was a holiday for newsagents. However, the events were to postpone the publication of Cypriot newspapers until August 20, when they gradually began to re-circulate, after the second phase of the Turkish invasion.
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After b' phase of the invasion
On August 20, 21, 22, the front pages of the Cypriot press were dominated by the murder of the American ambassador, after shots fired, during a demonstration in American embassy. In addition, messages are being conveyed about the need to form a government of national unity, with disagreements over who should be in charge.
On Tuesday, August 20, 1974, only the "Mesimbrini" and the "Dawn".
“Mesimbrini”, under the title “The people took revenge, after the brazen reaction of the marines”, wrote that R. Davis was murdered, stating that “it was not possible for our people to react differently.” At the moment when he sleeps hungry under the trees and anxiously awaits the return of his lost children or mourns their death and the world is shaken by demonstrations against the American position, he could not help but break out.
In addition, the newspaper reported on Greek-American demonstrations in Chicago, with slogans for the liberation of Cyprus and against Kissinger.
The "Mesmbrini" he also called for the formation of a government of national unity, with the participation of “Unionists, Communists and Lyssarids”, headed by Clerides.
Elsewhere, the newspaper refers to the orders of the Junta, before its collapse, to the Hellenic Air Force, while with the return of Karamanli tanks entered the take-off channel, with the aim of aborting their take-off. Also, reference is made to a Greek ship that transported tanks and that was sent by the previous regime and “while it was about to unload in Limassol, it stopped and returned to Greece”, reports the newspaper, and wonders “what did they mediate”.
Government of national unity, but led by Makarios, "Haravgi" which was released on August 20. In addition, it requests a high-level delegation to go to Moscow for talks with the Soviet government and to seek, within the framework of the UN, a solution that ensures an "independent, sovereign, intact and demilitarized Cyprus".
While in a publication on August 1, after the first phase of the invasion, reference was made to 20,000 refugees, “Haravgi”, after the 2nd phase of the invasion, talks about the drama of 200,000 refugees. In addition, he refers to the "massive anti-American demonstration" in Nicosia, in which, as he reports, thousands of civil servants, workers, refugees, housewives, soldiers and wounded participated and condemns "the action of irresponsible elements n' open fire on the American embassy and kill Ambassador Roger Davis”.
It is worth noting that in a corner of the front page, the newspaper calls on people to respect " “respecting the property – whether it belongs to Greeks or Turks”. In fact, he calls "help decisively so that the Turkish Cypriot compatriots, who live among us, feel security of life and property".
On August 21, other dailies were relaunched. "Agon" it wrote in its main topic that “The US is urgent to start negotiations”, so that the status quo is not frozen. He mentioned that Ecevit had declared that the ceasefire would be respected, while it was reported that only 8 villages in the province of Famagusta were not occupied.
The newspaper also refers to the drama of the refugees, who, as it notes, live by the thousands in the fields, with President Clerides promising to take care of their problems. Elsewhere, the newspaper reports that the Turks are holding 644 hostages in Serai and the Pavlidis garage in Nicosia. And “Agon” condemns the assassination of the American ambassador.
"The Battle" refers to a British initiative, supported by the US, aimed at the immediate resumption of negotiations. In addition, it states that Prince Aga Khan, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, would arrive the next day in Cyprus, on the issue of refugees.
The newspaper also broadcasts a National Guard major's account of the "epic battle of the airport", "where Greek valor makes fun of Turkish tanks and planes". It also states that the convicts defended the Prisons, fighting alongside the National Guards.
At another point, it reports that the Turks are asking for the withdrawal of peacekeeping forces from Famagusta Province, while reference is also made to a Clerides-Kissiger telephone conversation, in which the American Secretary of State assured the Cypriot President that he is willing to exert pressure on Turkey for "relaxation of its position, under the condition that there will be an end to the anti-American demonstrations".
“Either you will all go home or we will all become refugees” was the title of "Liberal" on August 21, conveying Clerides' statements to the uprooted. Cleridis, speaking among thousands of refugees in the forest of Achna, also stated that “I cannot predict a solution to the Cypriot problem which will exclude the return of the refugees to their homes”. The newspaper reports that the foreign journalists cried while watching “the mega drama in Larnaca”.
It also refers to a new English initiative underway in Cyprus, in conjunction with American actions and a Cleridis meeting with the UK High Commissioner in Cyprus.
Elsewhere, it is mentioned that Turkish snipers killed one national guard and wounded two others while demanding that UNFICYP leave Famagusta.
The English-language "Cyprus Mail", on August 22 that was released, in its main thread it states that Cleridis and Denktas will meet within the next 48 hours. Citing the BBC, the newspaper said the two agreed to discuss humanitarian issues. Elsewhere, the newspaper reports that President Cleridis has stated that he does not intend to negotiate under the pressure of an ultimatum.
It also broadcasts a report by the "Daily Telegraph" for the Yugoslav plan for Cyprus, according to which the guarantor of the independent state of the Republic of Cyprus would be the United Nations and not the three guarantor powers.
Source: KYPE
