Cyprus-Forum.com

[Simon]

I have read many different versions of why Greece did not defend Cyprus when Turkey invaded. These range from the USA threatening to sink the Greek fleet if they attacked Turkey, to US planes who intercepted Greek planes that were going to execute air strikes over the Turkish troops in Cyprus, to the USA lying to Greece saying that Bulgaria are building up on the border and are ready to invade Greek Thrace, which momentarily diverted Greek resources, while they were planning to attack Turkey on the Thracian border etc etc.

I was wondering if anybody actually knew the real reason, or was it a combination of all the above why Greece did not defend Cyprus? Was it simply that Greece knew that they could not (and still cannot) win a war against Turkey? Was it that they just in the end simply did not believe Cyprus was worth going to war over? Or was it the USA influence outlined above?

Can I please just make this clear. This is certainly not a post advocating war or trying to solve the Cyprus problem, this is why I have put it under General Chat. I was just hoping for a general discussion which hopefully can broaden my understanding and others of the history, because I keep reading conflicting versions.

[NeverSayGoodbye]

Since they had all the U.N resolutions against Turkey they believed that a poltical solution would of been more reasonable.Too many had sufffered already.

[Simon]

I'm beginning to wonder whether a political solution can ever be achieved. Especially with recent polls showing the majority of Greek Cypriots would like to live separate, and at the same time more and more illegal Turkish settlers coming in to Cyprus, where will it end??

[NeverSayGoodbye]

Why would you want to live with people that are a product of the invasion and were brought here delibrately to change the demographic character of the island?
And thats why one of the Greek-cypriot sides demand is that most of them should leave.
Even Israel removed its settlers from the West bank but does the international community reward turkey for its colonists(anan plan)

[Simon]

I agree with much of what you say, but my point is, Turkey's position has not really changed since before 1974 and does not seem to be changing at all, they do not seem to be willing to make any major concessions; and with this recent poll by GCs, I cannot see where a solution is coming from.

[NeverSayGoodbye]

Only problem is that they have the anan plan now that they voted yes for and the greek-cypriots no..so lets say the good guys are now the bad guys and vice versa.
Im not sure either where this situation is leading all of us.

[cypezokyli]

Why would you want to live with people that are a product of the invasion and were brought here delibrately to change the demographic character of the island?
And thats why one of the Greek-cypriot sides demand is that most of them should leave.
Even Israel removed its settlers from the West bank but does the international community reward turkey for its colonists(anan plan)

just to keep the facts straight.
israel didnot moove its settlers from the west bank , but a small proportion of its settlers.
it makes a difference

[Strahd]

The biggest reason why Greece did not help is because at that point, and mainly due to the situation in Cyprus, the people of Greece manage to oust the military regime and democracy was reinstated. Essentially the army and Greece was in ruins and there was no hope to organise anything.

In other words Greece or the ROC probably would not exist today as we know it if Greece would have embarged into a full out war with Turkey at that point.

[Greek goddess]

The reason was that the junta ignored by the majority of the world were convinced that the USA will help the gain credibility if they don’t go to war with Turkey over Cyprus.

[michalis5354]

I think Greece did not want to sacrifice its own interest for the sake of Cyprus and it was not prepared either!