United Nations

“ It is gratifying to record that throughout the political crisis and intercommunal violence in the island the members of the country's judiciary, both Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot, have to a large degree succeeded in maintaining, as far as is humanly possible, the objectivity and detachment that their high office demands. ”

“ It would, therefore, appear that, however much the judiciary and those exclusively concerned with upholding the integrity of the Courts may try to protect the institutions of justice and of law, the determining factors are in the last resort the decisions of political leaders taken only with a view to political advantage. ”

“ It should be mentioned that the breakdown of communications between the Government's Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot officials has also disrupted the functioning of social welfare activities, such as public assistance to destitute persons, payments to families with whom children are boarded out and payments to children's homes and boys' hostels. The fact that many persons of very limited means have their purchasing power so seriously reduced through the non-receipt of old-age and widows' pensions to which they are entitled has caused great hardship. ”

“ The Force, of course, has been subjected to much pressure from those, on the one hand, who would wish it to go much further than it has gone, particularly in the employment of armed force, and those on the other, who would feel that at times the Force tries to go too far on the territory of a sovereign State. ”

“ In the day-to-day administration of justice, judges have given a valuable example in addressing themselves exclusively to the matters before them and in endeavoring under trying conditions, to uphold the rule of law and to perform their judicial functions without fear or favor. ”

“ The Government has taken the position that no police officer or policeman can be regarded as a member of the Police Force of the Republic until and unless he acknowledges the authority of the Government by submitting to the control of the Ministry of the Interior and carrying out instructions issued by the Commander of the Police Force. Turkish Cypriot police personnel refusing to do so are therefore regarded as challenging the Government authority and thereby depriving themselves of the right to recognition by the Courts of Law of the Republic. ”

“ The core of the Turkish Cypriot fighting elements is made up by the original Turkish Cypriot members of the Cypriot Police Force and gendarmerie, and of the Cyprus army. They were joined by a considerable number of Turkish Cypriot armed civilians in the defense of certain areas of Turkish Cypriot population. The Turkish members of the Cypriot police, whose strength seemed to have been increased since the events of December 1963 by the addition of a number of recruits, continue to wear the same police uniforms but with Turkish badges. ”

“ A civil war is the worst possible situation in which a United Nations peacekeeping force can find itself. Strong reasons other than financial can be adduced in support of the position against maintaining a United Nations force in Cyprus. But the overriding reason for extending UNFICYP beyond 26 September is the position of those directly concerned with the Cyprus problem, and many others, that, despite all handicaps, to withdraw UNFICYP at this time could lead to utter disaster in the Island. ”

“ UNFICYP has made particular efforts to have work resumed in the Seed Cleaning Plant because of its importance to both communities in the economic life of Cyprus. After inspection by the Government and by Turkish Cypriot representatives of the extent to which machinery was damaged, UNFIFCYP began in April 1964 negotiations with representatives of the Government and the Turkish Cypriot community. Since the plant is in a sensitive area where both parties wished their authority to prevail, political considerations prevented agreement on the employment of workers for repairs and maintenance. ”

“ The inability of the Government to use its premises located in Turkish Cypriot sectors is an impediment to the proper functioning of its services, particularly in Nicosia where a number of Government premises, including the Courts of Justice building and the Chief Post Office building, are located in the sector controlled by Turkish Cypriots. The restriction placed by Turkish Cypriots on movement on the important Kyrenia road, astride of which is deployed the Turkish contingent, is also a source of major difficulty. ”

“ In addition to losses incurred in agriculture and in industry during the first part of the year, the Turkish community had lost other sources of its income including the salaries of over 4,000 persons who were employed by the Cyprus Government and by public and private concerns located in the Greek Cypriot zones. The trade of the Turkish community had considerably declined during the period, due to the existing situation, and unemployment reached a very high level as approximately 25,000 Turkish Cypriots had become refugees. ”

“ My view, as expressed in my report of 15 June, continues to be that while there is no doubt that a sovereign government normally is entitled to import and/or manufacture arms, the questions as regards Cyprus is whether at the present time and in the present circumstances the importation and manufacture of arms by the Government of Cyprus is consistent with the letter and spirit of the Security Council resolution of 4 March. ”

“ Examples in which troops may be authorized to use force include attempts by force to compel them to withdraw from a position which they occupy under orders from their commanders, attempts by force to disarm them, and attempts by force to prevent them from carrying out their responsibilities as ordered by their commanders. ”

“ In the defense of the areas they control, the Turkish Cypriots have set up roadblocks, trenches, fortified posts and sandbagged emplacements either on the ground or behind windows or on the roofs of buildings. Around those positions the Government forces have erected their own fortifications and roadblocks. The opposing military positions, manned by determined and well armed men, and sometimes separated by less than 50 yards, create a situation fraught with constant danger. ”

“ That the Force, in carrying out its mandate to prevent the recurrence of fighting, is reasonably entitled to remove positions and fortified installations where these endanger the peace, and to take all necessary measures in self-defense if attacked in the performance of this duty. ”

“ UNFICYP maintains permanent guard over the plant but no further steps have been taken from the Cypriot side towards restarting work.
G. Agricultural Problems 156. The main problem to which UNFICYP has devoted its attention in the agricultural field concerns harvesting. In the present atmosphere of tension the farmers of one community, whether Greek or Turkish Cypriots, are reluctant to work their fields if these are located near or inside an area controlled by the other community, because of the feeling of insecurity and the fear of being shot or abducted. ”

“ The first incident of a major nature during this period took place in the Kyrenia area and was followed by another in Nicosia early in August, and finally the most dangerous crisis since the establishment of UNFICYP occurred with the fighting in the Tylliria area and the subsequent intervention of the Turkish aircraft.
46. But even at its lowest level, the tension prevailing in Cyprus is dangerously high. Between the two communities which make up the local population, there is deep-rooted suspicion and mistrust. Each side is constantly in fear of being attacked by the other. ”

“ The personnel of the Force must act with restraint and with complete impartiality towards the members of the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities. (c) As regards the principle of self-defense, it is explained that the expression "self-defense" includes the defense of United Nations posts, premises and vehicles under armed attack, as well as the support of other personnel of UNFICYP under armed attack. When acting in self-defense, the principle of minimum force shall always be applied and armed force will be used only when all peaceful means of persuasion have failed. ”

“ The great quantities of arms which have been imported recently have gone into many hands. The local press on both sides, which regrettably has not so far shown a high sense of responsibility, frequently publishes inflammatory articles and stories and spreads false rumors. In this atmosphere, incidents can be easily set off by the smallest spark and, if no quick action is taken, may degenerate into a major crisis. ”

“ Although no cases of starvation have been noted in the Turkish Cypriot areas, serious inconveniences have been caused to the people subjected to these restrictions and in some cases conditions have reached the hardship stage. However, it should be noted that some cases of shortage of food and other supplies may be attributed to inadequate organization in certain Turkish Cypriot communities and their inability to arrange for the authorized amounts of supplies to reach them. ”

“ In sensitive areas where the two sides face each other, both have been actively strengthening their positions since the ceasefire, despite UNFICYP efforts to remove fortifications. The military buildup, while taking place on both sides, has strengthened the Government forces to a far larger degree than the Turkish Cypriots and now these forces have undoubtedly acquired the capability of overrunning the Turkish Cypriot strongholds rapidly when they so desire. ”

“ As indicated later in the report, UNFICYP has escorted Turkish Cypriot judges to courthouses located in Greek Cypriot areas. It has also ensured the protection of harvesters when they have had to work in the fields near or outside the boundary of their community. It has become a common practice for Turkish Cypriots who are compelled to travel outside their areas to call first the UNFICYP Civilian Police before setting out on their journey. ”

“ As indicated in the aide-memoire contained in my report of 11 April 1964 (S/5653) , the function of the United Nations Force in Cyprus is to implement the objectives defined in the Security Council resolution of 4 March 1964, namely: In the interest of preserving international peace and security, to use its best efforts to prevent a recurrence of fighting and, as necessary, to contribute to the maintenance and restoration of law and order and a return to normal conditions. ”