CYPRUS An Introduction to the Postcards & Postal History of the Conflict
But the poor Cypriots are much-enduring people, and God in his Mercy avenges them; they are no more Rulers than the poor serfs and hostages are; they make no sign at all. Leontios Makhairas(15th Century) Lawrence Bestow is hereby identified as author of this work in accordance with section 77 Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988 Copyright 2011 philatelic-literature.com
CYPRUS An island in the East Mediterranean. A British colony which became a Republic within the British Commonwealth in 1960. With these words the Stanley Gibbons catalogue starts its simplified listing of the stamps of Cyprus. They will serve as our starting point for this Introduction to the Postcards and Postal History of the Conflict. On 16th August 1960 the Republic of Cyprus was born out of a series of Agreements between foreign powers. Henry Kissinger wrote in his memoirs, “in 1959 Britain brokered an agreement which was doomed from the start”. The new Republic issued a set of 3 stamps. Greece did not mark the occasion with a stamp issue, however Turkey commemorated the event with a set of two stamps. And Turkey did in truth have cause to celebrate – Article 1 of the Treaty of Guarantee prevented the union of the Republic of Cyprus with any other State. Any Greek hopes of union with Greece were at an end. The towns are given their Turkish names – Girne (Kyrenia), Lefkosa (Nicosia). Lefke (Lefka), Magosa (Famagusta), Baf (Paphos) and Limasol (Limassol). -1-
By the end of 1963 rifts and conflicts had developed between the Greek and Turkish communities to the extent that separate Turkish administrative organisations were considered necessary. On 6th January 1964 the Cypriot Turkish Postal Administration started its operations. Turkish Postal Administration Handstamp used at Lefkosa. Turkish Postal Administration Handstamp used at Larnaka. -2-
Turkish Postal Administration Handstamp used at Lefkosa. This Handstamp marking is believed to be a forgery. Note the spelling “Tourk”. An alternative theory is that it is the handstamp prepared for use in Girne which was never brought into use. -3-
On 4th March 1964 United Nations Security Council Resolution 186 recommended the establishment of a UN peace-keeping force and the appointment of a mediator. -4-
Greek Cypriots say that on 8th/9th August 1964 sixty-four Turkish F100 jets indiscriminately bombed villages and other targets. The Turkish Bombs cachet was applied to overseas mail from 31st August 1964 until the end of the year. There appears to have been aggression on both sides. On 10th September 1964 the SecretaryGeneral reported, "UNFICYP carried out a detailed survey of all damage to properties throughout the island during the disturbances,.......it shows that in 109 villages, most of them Turkish-Cypriot or mixed villages, 527 houses have been destroyed while 2.000 others have suffered damage from looting. In Ktima 38 houses and shops have been destroyed totally and 122 partially. In the Orphomita suburb of Nicosia, 50 houses have been totally destroyed while a further 240 have been partially destroyed there and in adjacent suburbs." (UN document S/5950) -5-
In August 1964 Greece had gained the support of the Soviet Union against an anticipated Turkish invasion. On 15th August 1964 the Kremlin declared its willingness to help Cyprus defend her freedom and independence. Other factions still sought union with Greece or Turkey, or partition. During this period the cachet “Self Determination for Cyprus” was applied to mail initially at Limassol, and later in other towns. Self Determination for Cyprus cachet applied at Famagusta. Self Determination for Cyprus cachet applied at Nicosia. -6-
“On 20th July 1974 Turkey invaded Cyprus with massive military force. The pretext was a criminal coup against the President of Cyprus, on July 15th., instigated by the military junta of Greece. Turkey put into operation its plan to partition Cyprus.” Thus reads the summary provided by the Cyprus Government Press and Information Office. The three postcards below graphically convey the Greek Cypriot view of the Turkish action. No publisher or other details are provided on the cards. The reverse reads simply “Cyprus Tragedy”. -7-
The Turkish point of view is equally clearly illustrated by the issue on 26th August 1974 of a stamp to commemorate the Peace Keeping Operation. In the months following the Turkish action various official and unofficial postal markings were used. -8-
These anti-Kissinger cards bear the inscription “One of a series of postcards on the Turkish invasion of Cyprus. Issued by a group of Cypriot artists and writers 1974.” Cards numbered 1, 2 and 3 were designed by Mikis Phinikarides. Card number 4 was designed by Stephanos Atheaenitis. Card 1 Card 2 Card 3 Card 4 -9-
Following the Turkish military action many Greek Cypriots were expelled from their homes. The Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly puts the number of those expelled at 170,000 (Written Declaration No. 400, 27 June 2007). This represents almost a quarter of the total population of the island, who became refugees in their own country. The reverse of this postcard is inscribed in Greek and English “One of a series of telling postcards on the Cypriot tragedy” Cover from a refugee settlement near Larnaka. -10-
THINK OF CYPRUS – CHILDREN REFUGEES' FUND Suffering when it climbs highest... Culture in Rubble. Threefold Misery. -11-
Turkish military postcards Girne (Kyrenia) Magosa (Famagusta) Heroic Turkish Cypriot Soldiers St Hilarion Castle and Girne Mountain Pass -12-
Weights measures and currency conversion cards - Card (1) – the reverse has weights and measures conversions. Cards (2) and (3) have currency conversions: -13-
The double-sided card below conveys its message clearly enough, although whether Turkish forces used napalm in 1974 is disputed. -14-
Turkish postcards -15-
The Turkish viewpoint as stated by the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs - By 15th July 1974 a powerful force of mainland Greek troops had assembled in Cyprus and with their backing the Greek Cypriot National Guard, in a coup d’etat, overthrew Makarios and installed Nicos Sampson as "President." On 22nd July Washington Star News reported: "Bodies littered the streets and there were mass burials... People told by Makarios to lay down their guns, were shot by the National Guard." Turkish Cypriots appealed to the Guarantor powers for help, but only Turkey was willing to give any effective response. The Greek newspaper Eleftherotipia published an interview with Nicos Sampson on 26th February 1981 in which he said "Had Turkey not intervened I would not only have proclaimed ENOSIS - I would have annihilated the Turks in Cyprus." Even Greek Cypriots sought Turkey's help. In her memoirs, Greek Cypriot Member of Parliament Rina Katselli, says: "16th July 1974: Is Makarios alive? Is he dead? The Makarios supporters arrested, the EOKA-B supporters freed... I did not shed a tear, why should I? Did the stupidity and fanaticism deserve a tear? There are some who beg Turkey to intervene. They prefer the intervention of Turkey." “18th July 1974: My God!... Everyone is frozen with fear..the old man who asked for the body of his son was shot on the spot..The tortures and executions at the central prison... everyone is frozen with horror. Nothing is sacred to these people, and they call themselves Greeks!... we must not keep that name any longer." -16-
Women Walk Home In 1975 (International Women's Year) a group of British women who had married Greek Cypriots organised a march of some 30,000 women including members of parliaments from outside Cyprus. The march had the support of Archbishop Makarios. The aim of the march was to reach homes in the Turkish part of the island, however the marchers were prevented from doing so by United Nations peace-keeping forces. Cachet applied at Larnaca. Cachet applied at Paphos. -17-
United Nations Between 1964 and 2004 the United Nations Security Council adopted 39 Resolutions concerning Cyprus. Security Council Resolution 353 This cachet is believed to have been applied by the airmail section at Nicosia. -18-
Cyprus Population: Greeks 82%, Turks 18% Second Issue of the Refugee Stamp -19-
Cards from paintings by Vlassios Vlassiou. The Presidential Palace after the coup. Ormidia Refugee Camp. Stavros Refugee Camp. -20-
The Turkish Point of View (1975) From Parthenon to Mass Graves Path of the Greek Junta and the Greek Cypriot Fanatics Judgement Before The World For Atrocities Committed Against Turks From 1922 to 1974 -21-
Propaganda Label on Cover from Kandou, Limassol District Give Us Back Our Homes – 1978 -22-
Third Anniversary of the Cyprus Turkish Peace Operation Fourth Anniversary of the Cyprus Turkish Peace Operation -23-
Summit Meeting United Nations initiatives resulted in a meeting between Kyprianou (President of the Republic) and Denktash (President of Turkish Cyprus) in May 1979. A ten-point agreement was reached - 1. The intercommunal talks should resume on 15th June 1979. 2. The basis of the talks would be the Makarios-Denktash guidelines of 12 February 1977 and the UN Resolutions relevant to the Cyprus question. 3. There should be respect for the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all the citizens of the Republic. 4. The talks would deal with the territorial and constitutional aspects. 5. Priority would be given to reaching agreement on the resettlement of Varosha under UN auspices. 6. All should abstain from any action which might jeopardise the outcome of the talks and special importance would be given to initial practical measures by both sides to promote goodwill, mutual confidence and the return to normal conditions. 7. The demilitarization of the island was envisaged and matters relating thereto would be discussed. 8. The independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and non-alignment of the Republic should be adequately guaranteed against union in whole or in part with any other country and against any form of partition or secession. 9. The intercommunal talks would be carried out in a continuing and sustained manner, avoiding delay. 10. The intercommunal talks would take place in Nicosia. -24-
5th Anniversary of the Turkish Peace Operation in Cyprus 6th Anniversary of the Turkish Peace Operation in Cyprus -25-
7th Anniversary of the Turkish Peace Operation in Cyprus 8th Anniversary of the Turkish Peace Operation in Cyprus -26-
9th Anniversary of the Turkish Peace Operation in Cyprus Ten Years of Occupation of Cyprus Territory by Turkey -27-
25 Years of Illegal Turkish Military Occupation Today the island remains divided, scarred by these events, the conflict a living memory and visible presence. Picture taken in 2008. -28-
BIBLIOGRAPHY Cyprus – Mail Services of the Pre-1974 Invasion Period by Brenda M. Goodwin Cyprus – Mail Services to the Refugee Camps Part I and Part II by Brenda M. Goodwin Cyprus – Post-1974 Mail Routes and Developments by Brenda M. Goodwin Cyprus 1353-1986 History, Postal History and Postage Stamps by Wilfrid T.F. Castle All the above publications are available from philatelic-literature.com Enquiries to sales@philatelic-literature.com The History of Modern Cyprus by Dr. Stavros Panteli About Cyprus by Press and Information Office, Government of Cyprus
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