Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-07-09
Greece and Cyprus

In his column OF June II,
Mr.. Constantine Brown made
a thorough analysis of the
Turkish position with regard
to Cyprus. He pointed out
that, for a number of reasons
which Turkey considers valid,
the Turks took the view that
any change in the sovereignty
of Cyprus would endanger
their security and would JUS
tify the presence of Turkish
troops on the island. He added
that the deterioration of
Greek Turkish relations in
the wake of the anti-Greek
riots of Istanbul and Izmir
was such as to lend substance
to fears of an armed conflict
between Greece and Turkey in
the event of a solution contrary
to Turkish views being adopted
on the future of Cyprus. To
dramatic his point, Mr.
Brown went to the extent of
asserting that an increased
number of Greek and Turkish
troops were facing each other
across the Adrianople and Cha
taldja lines.
The Turks are certainly en-
titled to have their own views
on any international prob
lem, and Mr.. Brown has the
right to interpret them in his
own way. 1t is certainly not
my intention to take issue with
either, no matter how unjuS-
titled both may seem from the
Greek point of view.
What l must object to is Mr..
Browns statement regarding
concentrations of Greek troops
at the Turkish border. On be-
half of my government. wish
to make a categorical denial
of his allegation and point out
that at no time did Greece
rely on violence for the solu-
ton Of any of her interna-
tional problems. More specif-
ically. with regard to Cyprus,
Greece has chosen existing
peaceful international proce-
dures to project the Cypriot
claim of determination
and to obtain its fulfillment.
She has applied twice to the
United Nations but her efforts
were partly frustrated by the
opposition of Britain and
other powers, including Tur-
key. 1t is not Greece that sent
a field marshal to war against
the population of Cyprus nor
did she at any time make any
threats of war endangering in
ternational peace and secu-
rity. Such threats, however,
have been bluntly and repeat
eddy formulated by Turkey,
whose bellicose fervor seems
to be bent upon denying to
others the enjoyment of their
most fundamental rights.
Finally, l would like to point
out that the recent historical
record shows beyond the
shadow of a doubt that Greek
policy on matters affecting the
Western patrimony of free
dom, democracy and civiliza-
ton has never wavered. I'm
like that of other countries,
it was not and is not dictated
by opportunistic considera-
tons.
Those who pretend to be
afraid that Greece might some
day go Communist would do
we'll to remember that Greece
is the only country in the
world to have met and deci-
sively defeated communism on
the battlefield thus showing
by deeds rather than by words
the determination to oppose
any form of totalitarian tyr
amy. Greece has suffered
perhaps more than any other
country in upholding the prin-
ciples of human dignity and
decency and has always been
faithful to her alliances re-
CARELESS of cost in terms of
human and material . losses.
If she raised her voice on be-
half Of the Cypriots, it is pre-
cisely because these principles
are now being ignored for the
sake of a dubious expediency.
John A. TZOunis,
Chief Information Officer,
Royal Greek Embassy.
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