Greece Against Turkish Troops in Cyprus, Treaty of Guarantee

Greek authorities oppose the presence of the Turkish troops in Cyprus, as well as the existing system of guarantees in regard to the island nation introduced by the Treaty of Guarantee, local media reported Monday.

ATHENS (Sputnik) – The Phileleftheros newspaper reported, citing documents of the Greek Foreign Ministry that Greece's security doctrine was based on the position that the preservation of the "guarantees and occupation" after the settlement of the Cyprian conflict would result in the situation, when the EU member would be a "protectorate of the third country."

According to the media outlet, the Greek ministry was against even a small contingent of the Turkish Armed Forces deployed at Cyprus.

The 1960 Treaty of Guarantee implies that Greece, Turkey and the United Kingdom are the guarantors of the Cyprian security and territorial integrity. The treaty also reserves the right of the guarantors to interfere in the situation at the island nation if there is a threat posed to the country's independence.

In 1974, Turkey used the treaty to justify its invasion of Cyprus, following the intention of the Greek government to unite with the island state. A decade later, in 1983, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus proclaimed independence, currently recognized only by Turkey. At present, the United Nations with the leaders of the two parts of the island, President of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci are brokering peace talks for reunification of the two parts of Cyprus.