Turkey's tactics were also manifest in its attitude towards the inter-communal talks, held
under the auspices of the then U.N. Secretary General, Dr. Kurt Waldheim, in pursuance
of Security Council resolution 362 (1975). Three rounds of talks were held in Vienna
between 28 April and 3 May, 5 and 7 June, 31 July and 2 August 1975.1 The Turkish side
followed delaying tactics and refused to put forward clearcut proposals on all aspects of the
Cyprus problem, as her aim was the consolidation with the lapse of time of her position
and the eventual turkification of the occupied territory.
At the third round of the talks in Vienna the Turkish Cypriot negotiator agreed to submit
comprehensive proposals before the next round, which was scheduled to take place in New
York on 8 and 9 September 1975.
But the Turkish Cypriot side failed to submit the proposals it had promised and, in an
attempt to turn world attention away from its commitments, continued instead to demand
the establishment of a transitional government in an effort to deprive the Cyprus
Government of its world recognition and deviate from the scheduled route of the
negotiations.
Turkey also made it abundantly clear in New York that she was against any meaningful
negotiations and tried to prolong the talks in order to consolidate the faits accomplis created
through the use of armed force against the independence, sovereignty and territorial
integrity of Cyprus.
In view of the impasse created by the negative stand of the Turkish Cypriot side at the talks
and Ankara's implementation of the colonisation plans, the Cyprus Government once again
had recourse to the U.N. General Assembly. After hearing the views of the two sides, the
General Assembly (R/3395) demanded the withdrawal of all foreign troops without further
delay.2
In putting forward its case before the United Nations the Cyprus Government expressed its
desire that the Greek and Turkish Cypriots live together in peace as they had done for many
years in the past, and enjoy the benefits of progress and prosperity in their country.
Moreover it stressed that the forcible movement of Greek Cypriots and seizure of their
properties were inhuman acts and would be to the detriment of both sides.
The Cyprus Government also declared that past experience has taught that if a settlement is
to last it should be under broad effective international guarantees.
As late President Makarios emphasized in his address before the General Assembly, "in an
independent, non-aligned Cyprus free from the threats of force and all outside interference,
its people, Greek and Turkish Cypriots, can live together in harmony with mutual respect
for their legitimate rights. In these circumstances there will be neither need nor purpose for
the existence of any armies". The Cypriot President said further that "the Government of
Cyprus supports a fully demilitarized state of Cyprus and to this end is prepared to disband
completely its armed forces.
In December 1975 the U.N. Secretary-General told the Security Council that he would be
in contact with the parties "with a view to the resumption of the talks at the earliest possible
time".
