Turkish leadership drafted a clandestine plan in 1964 to “Turkify” Kyrenia and establish a direct naval link with Turkey, according to a declassified intelligence report. The document, titled «Present Situation of Turkish Cypriots» and dated 24 January 1964, details strategic maneuvers designed to dismantle the Republic of Cyprus and pave the way for partition.
The secret file from the General Archive’s 2nd Staff Office reveals that Ankara’s strategy relied on encircling Kyrenia with armed groups while orchestrating island-wide population shifts.
Strategy for Kyrenia and Nicosia
The report highlights a coordinated effort to secure a bridgehead to the Turkish mainland. Key objectives included:
The Kyrenia Siege: Establishing armed units in Kioneli, Boghaz, St. Hilarion, Kazafani, and Templos to isolate the city.
Population Transfers: Moving Turkish Cypriots from mixed villages into urban centres and exclusive enclaves to create the basis for a separate state.
Nicosia Fortification: Concentrating combatants and ammunition in Kioneli, Hamit Mandres, and the Old City, supported by the Turkish Contingent (TOURDYK).
British and American involvement
The document alleges that foreign powers facilitated these separatist moves. It claims British forces helped transport Turkish mail and engaged in “psychological warfare” to intimidate Greek Cypriots. Meanwhile, it asserts that American officials maintained constant contact with Turkish Cypriot leaders, even helping distribute their “White Paper” propaganda in the United States.
The “Recovery of Cyprus” plan
According to the report, the intercommunal clashes of December 1963 found the Turkish Cypriot side fully prepared to implement the «Cyprus Recovery Plan (KIR)». In contrast, the Greek Cypriot side scrambled to form a voluntary National Guard, only establishing the formal National Guard under the “Law of Necessity” months later in June 1964.
The intelligence file lists several actions already taken by January 1964 to establish an autonomous state, including:
Parallel Services: Setting up separate post offices, police units, and telegraph services.
Hostage-taking: Using provocations and the detention of hostages to shatter the possibility of coexistence.
Stockpiling: Accumulating large quantities of essential supplies in anticipation of Greek Cypriot countermeasures.