ENOSIS RESOLUTION BY GREEK CYPRIOT
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

26 June 1967

 

The Greek Cypriot House of Representatives passed a resolution on 26 June 1967, on Enosis (union of Cyprus with Greece), this resolution has neither been annulled nor denied by the Greek Cypriot side until today. It is still in force.

            Members of the Cyprus Turkish press, who crossed to the South, after the 1974 Peace Operation, put several questions to Greek Cypriot officials and political party leaders, related to the Enosis Resolutions, but they received no convincing replies. The interviewed Greek Cypriot leaders pretended either not to understand or attempted to evade the question.

            It has become essential that the subject, at this stage, be brought up again.

            The prelude to the resolution, the resolution itself and comments on it are summarized below:

            The following news was broadcast by Athens radio on 14 June 1967:

            An authoritative source, has announced that articles in the Cyprus newspapers have caused ‘deep indignation’ in Greece. These unacceptable publications by the Greek Cypriot press has created anger. Because these publications level false accusations against Greece, charge the Greek Government and injure the Greek army which is a source of pride for the nation. This kind of publication, full of insult, can only be expected from the enemies of the Greek nation. These handful of Greek Cypriots must consider their responsibility, pull themselves together and end such irresponsible publications which poison the Hellenic spirit and cause cracks in the ‘struggle front’.

            They must know that Hellenism can no longer exercise tolerance against those who are undermining unity. Greece is helping ‘with love’ our Cypriot brethren in their struggle and will not abandon this attitude because of Cypriot behavior which is contrary to national interests. But these Greek Cypriots must remember that their attitude against Greece will not be forgotten when the Pan Hellen aspiration (Enosis) is achieved.

This broadcast by Athens radio was carried by the Greek Cypriot press on 19 June 1967 under the following headings:

            Phileleftheros: Athens radio is accusing certain Cypriots of acting against national interests, because of press comments. It also warns that what they are doing will not be forgotten after the achievement of Enosis.

            Patris: Greek government’s warning to opponents of Enosis. They will be called to account for their actions.

            Haravgi: Biggest Scandal-Cypriot patriots are being rudely threatened by the military government.

            Mahi: Warning from authoritative Athens sources- Those Cypriots slandering Greece will not be forgotten.

            On the same day, the spokesman of the Home Front, Demetriades, demanded the debate of the matter in the House and tabled the following on the Thursday agenda: ‘Threatening efforts by certain persons or organizations in Cyprus or Greece and the legal and political counter measures to be taken.’

            The Athens broadcast and the motion by Demetriades caused widespread repercussions in the Greek Cypriot press. Enosists and independence supporters engaged in a strong wrangle.

            The major topic in the Greek Cypriot newspapers on 17 June 1967 was again the Athens newscasts. But the previous day (16 June 1967) a rather interesting statement was released by AKEL. It  has said:

            In the past days, disgusting and ridiculous leaflets, signed ‘idealists leftists’ were circulated in Limassol. The release, written by so-called confident leftists, is attacking not only the left wing but as the same time the government and Makarios in person, ministers, MPs and reputable rightists and leftists of our town are being attacked. AKEL is being accused of supporting the government and AKEL members are being called upon to struggle against Enosis. It is not difficult to guess who are behind this loathsome leaflet and what their aims are. Imperialism and its bought over organizations are resorting to all forms of legal and illegal means to cause confusion within the people and prepare the ground for their criminal actions. They are trying to deal blows against progressives through exploding dynamites and through unsigned statements. AKEL is not sabotaging neither the government nor the army.

            To the contrary, AKEL embraces with love the soldier sons of Cyprus and Greece who are fighting for the national goal-real Enosis.

            Damaging moves, from whatever sources they come, will not be able to divide AKEL and undermine its policy. The Limassol Committee of AKEL reaffirms its loyalty and support to the party’s stand on the national cause. It calls the democratic people of Limassol to increase their vigilance against organs of imperialists, divisionists and reactionaries and to condemn them and dissociate with them. It urges the democratic forces to strengthen their unity.

 

Agon - 17 June 1967

 

Let us think like Hellenes.

 

            What Athens has done today is an unprecedented example of action and an incredible action. 99% of the ‘Big island’ has been humiliated, threatened and provoked. Reaction in Cyprus to this behavior is an inevitable outcome. Matter of fact the House (Greek Cypriot House of Representatives) has decided to investigate the matter. Where are we heading? Who will enjoy our present stand? While we celebrate over the Küçük-Denktaþ conflict we prepare for a brothers fight tomorrow. How do we forget our historic and national responsibility, how de we forget that the Turk is waiting for the opportune moment?

            We, the Greek Cypriots are Hellens to the marrow of our bones. We respect Greece and the Greek ideals more than our free brothers. Our eyes are turned to the day when Enosis will be accomplished. Cooperation and brotherly bonds must be established between Athens and Nicosia and we must move towards Enosis hand in hand.

Phileleftheros - 17 June 1967

 

            Athens claims the presence of anti-Enosists in Cyprus and says that these will not be forgotten after Pan-Hellen ambitions are fulfilled. Well, we can say the contrary to this; We can put forward that there are people opposing. Enosis in Greece and that they will not be forgotten after the Pan-Hellen aspiration is achieved.

 

Patris - 17 June 1967

 

            Anti-Enosists will certainly be crushed.

            The anti-Enosis giant is in the throes of death. The giant is receiving blows today from the whole Hellenism and is dying. We will deal the fatal blow on this giant hand in hand with Greece. Those, who until today, undermined everything Greek, with the spirit of a sadist, are now growling. What are they imagining? Are they imagining that their crimes will go unpunished? The Greek government has made the right diagnosis. What now is needed is an effective medicine. There is need for practical measures. All honorable Cypriots must help Athens on this move.

            The castles of treason are shaking from their foundations, the big moment for duty is approaching, the Enosis sun is about to rise.

 

Teleftea Ora (Pro-left - 18 June 1967)

 

            The Greekness of Cyprus has welcomed the responsibility feeling of the House, Greek Cypriots consider claims that there are opponents of Greece and Enosis in Cyprus as the biggest insult.

            Meanwhile, Makarios in a speech at Pelendri village on 18 June 1967, addressing a crowd and a unity of the National Guard said: (from Tharros, Sinayermos - 19 June 1967)

            The struggle is not yet completed. It is in progress. And it will continue until union of Cyprus with motherland Greece. The guarantee of success is the determination and conscience of Greek Cypriots. Let Turkey say there will be no Enosis, let her demand partition, bases and cantons. We reject every form adulterated solution. There is no power on earth to impose on the Greek Cypriots a solution against their wishes. The copy of the resolution you handed me today is a reflection of the will and determination of Greek Cypriots.

            On the same day, 18 June 1967, at Spilia village, the then President of the House of Representatives, Clerides, attending a commemorative service for an EOKA man, renewed that Enosis was the unchanging goal of Cyprus. He said:

            We want a peaceful solution. But in the name of a peaceful settlement we cannot give up holy lands bequeathed on us by ancestors. We emphatically state that we will never give land to Turkey.

            Dr. Spiritakis, Minister of Education, was speaking on the same day at the village of Giberunda. He was saying:

            In his speech at Pelendri village this morning Makarios said the Enosis struggle will continue at the same tempo until genuine Enosis is achieved and that we will not accept any adulterated solutions. The Island will be handed to Greece as a whole.

            This necessitates determination and faith. We must not be taken in by deceptive words from within or from outside. In fact there is no need to worry about that. Because the Greek Cypriot people, as a whole, proved on many occasions its adherence to lofty principles and its national idea.

 

ATHENS REPEATS ENOSIS CALL

 

            On 20 June 1967 Athens radio made a new announcement following continued reverberations in Cyprus.

            The midnight announcement said:

            According to the opinion of authoritative sources the announcement concerning anti-Enosists, has been deliberately and maliciously misrepresented in Cyprus and possibility has been created for further and unjustified accusations against the national government. The announcements in question had warned opportunities to end their systematic accusations against Greece and to pull themselves together, to come to their senses and to give up their futile efforts against Enosis since Enosis would definitely be achieved as a historic dictate. It was added that the number of factioneers and saboteurs of war was small. The warnings were addressed against this minority. There was no need to warn the majority of our brethren and this was never considered. Because the majority of our Cypriot brothers wanted the accomplishment of the national ideal and this was their goal. As a result, the decision to open an inquiry in the Cyprus Parliament (Greek Cypriot House of Representatives) on the so-called threats, caused great confusion. In the related motion, it is demanded in a dramatic style, that political or legal measures are discussed against the threats.

            It is common knowledge that the National Government wants, in line with historic tradition and wishes of the Hellenic world, to accomplish Enosis through peaceful method. If Greece strays from these efforts, and if saboteurs are humiliated, if the government is systematically insulted then it is construed that there are Greek Cypriots opposing peaceful Enosis. The Hellenic World is condemning only and solely these elements.

            If these circles attempt to denounce on the excuse that they have been threatened then it means that they are guilty and that they have confessed their guilt. For it is quite clear that the warnings have been made only to anti-Enosists. The motion at the Cyprus Parliament aims at protecting and defending the threatened.

            Let everyone know that whoever the anti-Enosists they will give an account to the nation and history. They do not deserve special protection. It is believed that the Cyprus Parliament will reflect the patriotic majority and denounce those who attempt in various ways to impede Enosis. It is also hoped that the Cyprus Parliament will take the opportunity to clearly and openly proclaim its faith and allegiance in the Enosis ideal.

            This new warning was applauded by the rightist press, merely reported by the middle and was avoided by the leftist press which made no mention.