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airborne assault which linked the Nicosia-Geunyeli enclave with the sea. This period
was characterised by intense fighting and ended with a shaky UN sponsored ceasefire
on the 22nd July and five day tripartite talks in Geneva (Britain, Turkey and the
newly démocratie Greece). Foreign ministers agreed on the 30th July that the areas
controlied by opposing forces should not be extended and that a phased withdrawal
of military forces should be encouraged. These déclarations of intentions did little to
stop the fighting. Despite the presence of UN peace-keeping troops and a
unanimous Security Council resolution creating a buffer zone between the Turkish
army and Greek and Greek-Cypriot forces, the UN was unable to implement it.
Turkey continued to re-enforce and re-supply its extended beachhead and Greek,
Greek Cypriot, Turkish and Turkish-Cypriot forces persistently broke the cease fire.
The Second Geneva Conference included représentatives of the Cypriot
communities and formally commenced on the lOth August. Turkey demanded a bizonal
fédération with 34% of the island to be ceded to the Turkish minority 15 .
Essentially this was what was on the negotiating table and a décision had to be made
then and there. Acting President and chief Greek-Cypriot negotiator, Glafkos
Clerides, said he was Willing to consider the proposais conditional on the
withdrawal of ail Turkish forces. However, Clerides said he would first have to
consult with colleagues, hoping that a smaller proportion of the island could be
considered. At this impasse, the Turkish foreign minister Turan Gunes withdrew
from the talks on the morning of 14th August and simultaneously Turkish forces
advanced 16 . Within 48 hours Turkish forces had increased the area under their
control to exceed the 34% of the island requested in negotiations (perhaps allowing
for a negotiating margin). On 16 August Turkey's offer of a cease fire and a return
to the negotiating table was accepted.
15 Callaghan, J. 1987. Time and Chance. London: Collins, p. 355.
16 ibid., pp. 354-355.
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