Cyprus: Illusions and Leadership Before the Turkish Invasion

An article from Nikos Sampson's newspaper "Η Μάχη" on July 20, 1974, titled "Turkey Cannot Invade Cyprus – Its Resources Are Limited," highlights the illusions that defined Cyprus' history.

Before the invasion, Archbishop Makarios believed that "...we already have a purely Greek Government on the Island..." and wondered about the future of Turks in Cyprus.

General Georgios Grivas Digenis in January 1973, considered Enosis feasible and that Turkey would not dare to land in Cyprus.

Ezekias Papaioannou, leader of the left, in April 1974, argued that "The Soviet Union... is the shield" for Cyprus.

Later, Spyros Kyprianou in 1983, shortly before the declaration of the pseudo-state, stated that there was no risk of declaration, based on assurances from Ceausescu.