Makarios: ‘I will return'

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33635, 10 September 1974, Page 17

Makarios: ‘I will return'

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter —Copyright > GENEVA, September 9. Archbishop Makarios has declared that he is still the legitimate. Head [of the Cyprus Republic, and that he will return to the island in the very near future.

The Archbishop held a press conference in Geneva yesterday, after week-end talks there with the Greek Foreign Minister (Mr George Mavros). “I am awaiting certain developments in Cyprus before I return, including the withdrawal, or replacement, of all the Greek officers of the Cypriot National Guard who engineered the coup d’etat (which ousted him on July 15),” Archbishop Makarios said.

“Another condition is that some members of the Eoka *B’ guerrilla organisation still in possession of arms be brought under control. “Mr Mavros fully agrees on the withdrawal of the Greek officers, and many have already been replaced. The whole process could be completed in less than a month.” The archbishop told a

questioner that Mr Mavros I had told him that there was no pressure from Greece to! prevent his early return. . i He told another questioner' he did not exclude the possibility that he 'would lead the [ Cyprus delegation at discus-< |sions on the issue by the' I United Nations General | Assembly. I Archbishop Makarit )s said [that he would not wait until the Turkish troops withdrew from Cyprus before he re-1 turned. Instead, he said, he , would go to Nicosia to tryl to make the Turkish troops i, withdraw. “Cyprus will resist Tur-1, key’s efforts to impose her > own terms and conditions by military strength — we shall I 1 never accept terms at gun-; point,” he added. Turkey has proposed sepa- J rate autonomous regions for ' the island's 110,000 Turkish 1 Cypriots — outnumbered four : to one by Greek Cypriots — 1 as a solution to the Cyprus ■ problem. The archbishon said that J he agreed with Greece’s/ refusal to resume peace? negotiations until Turkish? forces returned to their cease-? fire lines and people were? allowed to return to their!, homes in Turkish-occupied zones. It is reported from Nicosia !

(that the Turkish Cypriot j {leader, Mr Rauf Denktash.; I has formally asked Britain to (allow the 10,000 Turkish [Cypriot refugees at the Bri-I Itish military base at Episkopi to be taken to Turkey. ; Mr Osman Orek, Minister; , of Defence in the Turkish- [ [Cypriot Administration, hasl (told Reuters that Turkey is| [ready to provide air or sea .transport for the refugees, or to defray any costs if the, (British Government shipped, i them. I The refugees are in twoj (camps in the Episkopi sovereign base area — about 7000 at Happy Valley and 3000 at( (Paramali, in the south-west I of the island. i Well-informed sources in Nicosia say that the request is likely to be discussed at I a meeting in London between [ the British Foreign Secretary (Mr James Callaghan) and the [British Ambassadors from 1 Athens. Ankara, and Nicosia. | The refugees issue is a [highly-delicate one. forming an essential part of talks be-' tween the Greek Cypriot ( [President Clerides and Mr, Denktash; and the British! Government would be reluctant to prejudice these discussions. Mr Orek maintains that! these Turkish refugeesi

i'alleges, the Turks were driven (looted their houses. FtiiS'-iaii demand [blamed N.A.T.O. circles for lagency, B.T.A. reports. ence in the internal affairs of NA.T.O. ’is the reason for i responsible for the current to be discussed by a repre'within the framework of the “The people of Cyprus — Cypriot Greeks and Cypriot 'Turks alike — should be guaranteed the irrevocable right to decide their problems (themselves in conditions of i peace and calm.”