In the fourth episode of the long documentary series, a Greek-Turkish meeting-fiasco in Evros is the harbinger of a new cycle of bloody episodes in Cyprus that begins in 1967.
We are in the Seven Year Period. A Greek-Turkish meeting-fiasco in Evros is the harbinger of a new cycle of bloody incidents in Cyprus that begins in 1967. The former king Constantine attempts the failed counter-movement, the first signs of mass resistance to the junta appear, culminating in the revolt of the Polytechnic and his chair Papadopoulos starts to crackle.
Who and why decided to leave the Greek division from Cyprus? What was the attitude of the Americans towards the new regime and when did it start to change? What agents were they using to send messages to Papadopoulos? What role did Greek-American tycoon Tom Pappas play? Why did the Navy movement fail? Who suggested to Turkey that Cyprus should go to Greece because it is “so much”?
In the fourth episode (watch here or on hybrid TV by pressing the red button on your remote control in the documentary menu) of the new major documentary series “Dark Decade 1964-1974”, by Alexis Papachelas, the protagonists of the events reveal what was happening behind the scenes in the first years of the junta and how a series of wrong decisions exposed the country abroad and weakened the defense of Cyprus, they talk about the Papadopoulos – Ioannidis relationship, while eyewitnesses describe the time when the tank invaded the Polytechnic on November 17, 1973.
Watch here the first episode, here the second episode, here the third episode, or on hybrid TV by pressing the red button on your remote control in the documentary menu
“Greece in plaster”
On April 21, 1967, Greece entered the plaster cast for seven whole years. Everyday life changes for everyone. However, television also enters the lives of the Greeks. The dictatorship, in a very elaborate way, uses it to pass its propaganda.
The ambivalent attitude of the Americans towards the junta
The junta deals with Greek-Turkish relations for the first time in September 1967. The dictators propose to the Turkish government to hold a summit meeting in Evros with the aim of resolving the Greek-Turkish differences and, above all, the Cyprus issue. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs was in complete darkness.
“Cyprus is so much, give it to us to finish”
The fire in Cyprus did not take long. It all started from a Turkish Cypriot village, the village of Kofinou in 1967.
“Kofinou was a purely Turkish village and is situated on the main road between Nicosia and Limassol. On a nearby rise on a hill the Turks installed a cannon, which looked over the main road to Limassol and whenever it pleased them and whenever it smoked them they started shooting,” says Patroklos Stavrou.
Greek military units under Georgios Grivas attack the village.
“Epigen apano bam boom neutralized them and well so far. We could say that he used a little more violence but whoever keeps his clothes has half of it. But he made the mistake of entering the Turkish village of Kofinou and capturing the Kofinou, who was out of his command. He even went to the Turkish cafe and put one foot on the other and ordered coffee.” Patroklos Stavrou narrates.
The attack and the victims cause Turkey’s strong reaction. Pattakos then sees a conspiracy behind the Greek business: “In ’67, the king, probably the politicians outside our government, with the foreigners, had Griva do the clearing of the pockets without asking us. So Makarios did them with Griva and the foreigners. They did an action, which they did too much damage to Turks. The Turks protested – there were killings.”
General Panourgias, however, has a different explanation and puts the junta in the picture: “Grivas gets them on the phone and says okay, but have you dealt with the political implications? They say never mind, send a signal, so he sends them a signal, and if I’m not mistaken I was told then by the staff then, they said yes Papadopoulos also signed.”
After the bloody clashes in Kofinou, Cyprus is in turmoil. The British evacuate the island as there is fear of a landing of Turkish forces. The same message is sent to Washington by the American ambassador in Ankara, Parker Hart.
The plans of the Turks frighten America. An attempt to prevent the landing in Cyprus and the Greek-Turkish war begins again.
Experienced Cyrus Vance, while on vacation, is urgently called by the White House.
How was the fateful decision taken to remove the Greek Division from Cyprus?
The king’s antimovement
The king addresses a sermon to the Greek people. He is in Kavala and is launching his own anti-movement with the aim of overthrowing the junta. “Greeks. The time has come for you to listen to the voice of your king. The national interest requires me to show initiative in order to prevent the destructive consequences of the extension of the present abnormal situation. The current conditions in Northern Greece allow me to free Macedonia exercise of my initiative, such as giving a new government to the country.”
Why did King Constantine’s anti-movement fail?
The first popular outburst against the junta came in 1968 with the death and funeral of George Papandreou
Papadopoulos consolidates his power and develops personal relationships with the powerful economic factors of the time, people such as Onassis and Niarchos.
Papadopoulos ruled for the next few years without being seriously threatened by anyone. But he also has contacts with a Greek-American tycoon, as can be seen from an incident recounted by agent John Faceas when one day he enters the dictator’s office. “He made fun of the Pope, the tycoon, and jokingly said ‘Watch out I’ll put you in, I’ll arrest you if you don’t sit smart’.”
Businessman Tom Papas played an odd role in the political background. He seems to have had a close relationship with Nixon who was preparing to succeed US President Johnson.
Andreas Papandreou explains the dark role played by Greek-American tycoon Tom Papas
The junta’s good relations with the American government can also be seen from the negotiations for the permanent mooring of the Sixth Fleet in Elefsina. The idea belonged to the then head of the US Navy.
By 1973 the dictator Papadopoulos seemed unshakable in his position. The first serious threat against the junta appeared in May of that year with the Navy Movement. For the first time officers from within the army are turning against the junta. But the officers’ plans are leaking.
The navy movement was crushed in its infancy. Among those arrested was the veteran soldier Spyros Moustaklis. Moustaklis is transferred to ETA-ESA and there he is subjected to brutal torture. He was tortured for 45 days by the junta. When he finally got out of prison he was paralyzed. After treatments he was able to walk but was never able to speak again.
Shortly after the failed Navy Movement was made public came the mutiny of the destroyer Arrow. Its captain, Nikos Pappas, withdraws from a NATO naval exercise in protest and seeks asylum in Italy.
Papadopoulos, seeing the pressure exerted on his regime, conducts a political experiment with the Markezini government.
“Papadopoulos does… he takes some measures, that is, in the summer of 1973 we have the referendum on the monarchy, he gives a general amnesty, people leave the prisons and the dry islands. These are very important and we are supposed to have elections scheduled for February ΄74, all this will not happen, it will not happen” says Cornetis.
The younger officers are outraged by Papadopoulos’ actions. Then a new conspiracy begins.
The beginning of the end of Papadopoulos and his relationship with Ioannidis
In the summer of 1973, high-ranking CIA agent Ron Estes comes to Athens to become the station’s number two and replace Peter Koromilas. He introduces him to Dimitrios Ioannidis, at the CIA offices, in the old Army Stock Fund, on Panepistimi Street.
Former CIA agent Ron Estes remembers his first meeting with Ioannidis
Polytechnic Background
The regime of the junta is seriously shaken when students occupy first the law school in February and later the Polytechnic in November of the same year. Nikos Christodoulakis was then a fourth-year student at the School of Mechanical Engineering of the Polytechnic University: “So a first coordinating committee was formed and we took the first measures so as to guard the doors, Tositsa, Stournari and Patision, as well as to organize the necessary things to spend the night. While at the same time, we were trying to set up a radio station with very little success on Wednesday, meaning you couldn’t even hear downstairs, but little by little when some amateurs came and helped us with the right machines and spare parts, it started to take off and late at night around 11-12 o’clock it worked and started broadcasting.”
Journalists and foreign correspondents record the news of the occupation of the Polytechnic.
Outside the Polytechnic, people gather to support the students. Clashes with the police begin.
Papadopoulos does not know how to deal with the escalating crisis. He’s losing control.
Stavrou was in Ioannidis’ office when Papadopoulos called him to ask for his advice.
Video – “Cut off their water and telephone, they will be thrown out like mice”: Ioannidis’ advice to Papadopoulos about the Polytechnic
The moment of the tank invasion of the Polytechnic University
The Polytechnic is the final blow to the Papadopoulos regime. He doesn’t know it himself. He’ll figure it out in a few days.
Source: Skai
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