Cypriot intercommunal violence

The Turkish Cypriot prime minister on Oct. 26 said his country has always stood with Turkey in its legitimate fight against terrorism.

At 6 a.m. on July 20, 1974, Turkish troops stormed into the Republic of Cyprus in accordance with Article III of the Treaty of Guarantee of the first constitution of 1960. This mandated each of the guaranteeing parties - Greece, Turkey and Great Britain - "to take action with the sole aim of re-establishing the state of affairs" if that were ever threatened.

In a message ahead of the 45th anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus on July 20, Archbishop Elpidophoros of America said it was within the power of Cypriots themselves to achieve peace for the divided island.

"Violence only bears violence and it is the duty of the powers and states located beyond the seas of Cyprus to negotiate with her and not intervene," he said.

A Turkish Cypriot bus driver says Greek Cypriots threw rocks at his vehicle at Larnaca International Airport where he had gone to pick up tourists.
According to local media, a Turkish Cypriot driver is expected to give a statement to the bicommunal crime committee on Friday regarding an alleged attack by Greek Cypriot bus drivers earlier this week.

The new Greek prime minister's visit to the Greek Cypriot part of the island was hoped to serve as some sort of a catalyst to bring Nikos Anastasiades back to the negotiating table. It was a wrong expectation, but there was anxiety in the Greek Cypriot sector that Greece might join the list of countries prodding them to abandon adamancy and adopt a reasonable and pro-settlement stance.