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immediately after the coup of 1974. Then the male able-bodied Turkish-Cypriot
population were permanently with their respective units.
The easing of tension, 1968-74; a politicai background
The Kophinou incident, at a Turkish village on the junction of the Limassol /
Larnaca, Limassol / Nicosia roads, accelerated new international tension, though it
subsequently resulted in the easing of constraints imposed on the enclaved Turkish-
Cypriots. On 15 November 1967 the Greek-Cypriot National Guard had launched a
large-scale assault on the villages of Kophinou and Ayios Theodoros, ostensibly
because of a long standing dispute over access by Republic of Cyprus (therefore
Greek Cypriot) police patrols. The strategie location of the villages was perhaps
more to the point, though more of a threat to Greek pride than security. Twenty
Turkish-Cypriots were killed and there were allégations of Greek-Cypriot atrocities.
Turkish pressure, particularly focused on Greece, caused Grivas and his National
Guard to withdraw. Subsequent shuttle diplomacy by Lyndon Johnson's special
envoy Cyrus Vance, persuaded the Greek Junta and the Makarios Government to
make further concessions which effectively reduced tension. Grivas was withdrawn
from Cyprus altogether. Greek and Turkish Army personnel, over and above the
level permitted by the constitution, were required to leave Cyprus (a withdrawal of
some 12,000 Greek troops 72 ). In March 1968, ali remaining check-points and
economic restrictions were removed from Turkish enclaves, most importantly those
affecting the main enclave around northern Nicosia. The incident also stimulated the
beginning of inter-communal talks.
72 Kyle 1984. op. cit., p. 13.
147