An Cosantóir April 2014 www.dfmagazine.ie
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T
he island of Cyprus in the eastern Mediterranean is
strategically located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia and
Africa. It is 9,251 sq km in size; roughly the combined area
of counties Cork and Waterford.
At the outbreak of World War I, Britain annexed the island and
it was declared a Crown Colony in 1925. In 1955, the (Greek Cy-
priot) National Organisation of Cypriot Combatants (EOKA) com-
menced a guerrilla war against British rule. In 1958, the Turkish
Resistance Organisation (TMT) was established to counter EOKA.
In February 1959 the
governments of the
UK, Greece and Turkey
reached agreement on
the future of Cyprus
and the Republic of
Cyprus became an
independent state on
16th August 1960. The
three governments
also entered into a
treaty together with
Cyprus to guarantee
the provisions of the
new state's constitu-
tion and its territo-
rial integrity and
sovereignty.
However, a series
of constitutional
crises erupted soon
after indepen-
dence and the two
underground armies,
EOKA and TMT, built
up their forces as
deadlock persisted.
On 21st December 1963 fighting broke out in Nicosia, quickly
spreading across the island and drawing in mainland Greek and
Turkish forces.
After attempts to restore peace failed, the UN Security Council
adopted Resolution 186 on 4th March 1964 to establish the
United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP). Austria,
Canada, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Sweden and the UK provided
military contingents; Australia, Austria, Denmark, New zea-
land and Sweden supplied civilian police. By 8th June 1964 the
strength of the force was 6,411.
The mandate required UNFICYP to operate "...in the interest
of preserving international peace and security, to use its best
by COL gEORgE KERTON (RETD)
UNFICyP
50 YEARS OF
PEACEKEEPING
40 Inf Bn AML 60 armoured car near
Famagusta in 1964. Pic courtesy of Cav Sch.
