Turkish Parliament Authorises Landings

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30393, 18 March 1964, Page 17

Turkish Parliament Authorises Landings

(N.Z P.A.-Reuter —Copyright) NEW YORK, March 17.

Cyprus has protested to the United Nations Security Council ■ over the Turkish Parliament’s secret vote last night to authorise I troop landings if necessary on the troubled island. Ina letter to the council’s president, the chief Cyprus dele- ■ gate (Mr Zenon Rossides) said the Turkish Government’s attitude Bvvas “particularly regrettable at a time when in Cyprus perfect ■ calm prevails. . . .”

Mr Rossides told Reuter it was not his country’s intention to ask for a formal meeting of the council to consider the situation created by the Turkish decision, which he described as a “grave” development.

He conferred with U Thant last night after receiving reports of the Turkish decision, and said he had asked the Secretary-General to deal with the matter “as he deems appropriate and expedient.”

Sources in Ankara said that a joint secret session of the Turkish Parliament last night authorised the Government to land troops in Cyprus if necessary.

They said the authorisation would be valid even if the decision - risked war with

Greece and destruction of the south-east wing of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. The Government already has full constitutional powers to intervene in Cyprus under the Treaty of Guarantee, but needs Parliamentary approval to go to war. “Not An Instruction”

Political sources emphasised that the motion was not an instruction to the Government to intervene, but merely an authorisation to act if and when it saw fit. In one of the highest votes ever recorded in a joint session, 487 Deputies and Senators supported a Government motion asking for “full authorisation to intervene in Cyprus if and when necessary.” No votes were cast against the motion. There were only four abstentions, the sources said.

Political observers close to the Government said the sec-

ret session had two purposes apart from getting Parliamentary approval in advance for intervention that might lead to war without the opportunity for consultation with the Assembly. They were:—

To warn the world that Turkey still means business in spite of Friday’s “withdrawal from the brink” and To rally “bewildered and frustrated” opinion in the Assembly and the country behind the Government.

Reliable sources reported that military activity was abruptly speeded up yesterday in Iskenderun, the southern Turkish seaport 100 miles from Cyprus. All Leave Cancelled

The sources said, all leave granted on Sunday to , forces in the port area was cancelled and 17,000 marines and troops were standing by to board naval vessels. An armoured brigade was also reported to be heading toward Iskenderun.

Three destroyers and two submarines were seen leaving the port. Four thousand commandos and 13,000 infantry troops in barracks were issued with standby orders to board naval vessels, it was reliably reported.

Authoritative sources said almost 20,000 combat troops were in or around Iskenderun.

Reinforced Turkish naval units stationed at Iskenderun have been loading troops and armament and sailing for what had on previous occasions been officially described as routine naval exercises.

Greeks To Lose

Privileges

( N.Z.P.A .-Reuter—Copyright) ANKARA, March 16.

The Turkish Ministerial Council has decided to abrogate a 1930 Turkish-Greek agreement which recognises special residence, trade and maritime privileges for Greek nationals in Turkey. The repeal will go into effect next September. A Foreign Ministry statement said the agreement had ceased to apply “under existing conditions.”