U.N. PEACE FORCE Occupation Of Cyprus Begins

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30391, 16 March 1964, Page 11

U.N. PEACE FORCE Occupation Of Cyprus Begins

(N.Z.P. A.-Reuter—Copyright)

NICOSIA, March 15.

The advance party of the Canadian contingent for the United Nations peace-keeping force in Cyprus arrived in Nicosia by air yesterday. The Royal Canadian Air Force will fly nearly 1000 Canadian soldiers and airmen to Cyprus during the next two weeks.

Canadian parliament has authorised the contingent as part of a 7000-strong U.N. force.

About 150 men and heavy equipment will travel aboard the Canadian aircraftcarrier, Bonaventure.

Finland has agreed to supply a battalion of troops, about 700 men, the Foreign Ministry announced in Helsinki.

The formation, equipping and special training of the battalion, to be composed of volunteers from the armed forces reserve, will take several weeks. Sweden will send about 700 troops, it was announced in Stockholm. Sweden agreed to participate after another neutral country joined the force, as she had stipulated. In Oslo, the Norwegian Government decided to contribute 355,000 kroner to finance the force. Brazilian Leader President Makarios yesterday received Major-General Carlos Flores de Paiva Chaves, of Brazil, who arrived in Nicosia to take temporary command of the U.N. force during the temporary absence on leave of General Prem Singh Gyant, of India. General Chaves is commander of the U.N. emergency force in the Gaza Strip. Diplomats said today that the terms of reference for

the United Nations force had not been settled.

It was reported that the stumbling blocks to the terms of reference were Archbishop Makarios's insistence on the elimination of the “green line" in Nicosia, which divides the two communities, on the ground that it represents de facto partition of the city. General Gyani had earlier been reported as saying the “green line” was essential. Makarios Adamant General Gyani is said to have insisted on an independent role for the United Nations force while Archbishop Makarios was insisting that they must act in consultation with Greek Cypriot forces and intervene only when invited to do so. The Soviet Prime Minister, Mr Khrushchev, in a message to the Turkish Premier, Mr Ismet Inonu, yesterday urged Turkey not to act rashly in Cyprus, according to wellinformed sources in Ankara.

Cyprus Radio reported that a personal message from the Soviet leader was also handed to President Makarios of Cyprus. In Ankara, President Cemal Gursel, of Turkey, warned that the Cyprus problem could lead to a third world war because the Soviet Union had become involved. President Gursel told reporters the Greek Cypriots had turned to the Soviet Union for support. Authoritative officials in Ankara noted with satisfaction the continued calm in

Cyprus today after the Turkish Note to Archbishop Makarios warning that actions against the Turkish community on the island must cease. The officials emphasised, however, that Turkey reserved her treaty right of intervention if new fighting flared up before the United Nations peace force became operative. A minor outbreak of firing took place this morning in Nicosia, not far from the suburb of Trakhonas, where, say British authorities, the Greek Cypriot build-up is continuing and now numbers about 1500 men. No casualties were reported and it is not clear who started the shooting. Soldier Hurl A British serviceman was slightly wounded tonight when two shots were fired at a British military vehicle as it was travelling on the main Nicosia-Limasol road near Laxia.

Elsewhere, the Island was generally quiet, although minor anti-Turkish Cypriot disturbances were reported from the northern port of Kyrenia. Unconfirmed reports said Greek Cypriots who abandoned homes close to the Turkish Cypriot quarter of Kyrenia were returning today and sandbagging their homes.

Turks Disappointed

The Turkish Cypriots are said to be digging an elaborate new trench system close to paratroop headquarters this morning, and Greek Cypriots are reinforcing positions along the Kyrenia road. A heavy gloom had settled over the surrounded Turkish quarters when it was learned there would be no immediate Turkish invasaion.

Many Turkish Cypriots had gone to bed with high hopes that Turkish paratroopers and elements of the Turkish fleet would be in Nicosia today.

Greek Cypriot Government sources claimed several unidentified ships cruised off Cape Andreas, the tip of north-east Cyprus, during the night but disappeared after a couple of hours.