Kissinger approved Turkish tactics in 1974 Cyprus invasion
- Written by E.Tsiliopoulos
Henry Kissinger, U.S. Secretary of State at the time of Turkey’s 1974 invasion of Cyprus told then U.S. President Gerald Ford that Turkey was entitled to seize part of the island, according to the National Herald, a U.S. newspaper focusing on Greek affairs.
“There is no American reason why the Turks should not have one-third of Cyprus,” Kissinger told Ford, according to declassified minutes of a meeting between the two, held after Turkey had launched an initial invasion that gained control of 3 percent of the eastern Mediterranean island and as internationally brokered peace talks in Geneva aimed at resolving the crisis took place.
“The Turkish tactics are right – grab what they want and then negotiate on the basis of possession,” Kissinger said.
