CYPRUS: REPLACEMENT IRISH TROOPS ARRIVE FOR UNITED NATIONS PEACE-KEEPING FORCE.

Record ID: 337215

  • Title: CYPRUS: REPLACEMENT IRISH TROOPS ARRIVE FOR UNITED NATIONS PEACE-KEEPING FORCE.
  • Date: 15th April 1966
  • Summary: 1. GV IRISH TROOPS WALK FROM PLANE AT NICOSIA AIRPORT (NIGHT) 0.14 2. SV OFFICERS WALKING PAST CAMERA 0.23 3. GV TROOPS 0.26 4. GV PAN LAND ROVER DRIVES OFF TO TRANSIT CAMP 0.35 5. CU SIGN "TRANSIT CAMP" 0.37 6. GV TROOPS LINE UP FOR INSPECTION (NEXT MORNING) 0.42 7. SCU IRISH OFFICER 0.46 8. GV IRISH TROOPS CLIMB INT
  • Embargoed: 30th April 1966 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: NICOSIA, CYPRUS
  • Country: Cyprus
  • Reuters ID: LVA9BVMDQXWAXWRUS1I97RK51UFI
  • Story Text: THE FIRST CONTINGENT OF IRISH TROOPS TO ROTATE WITH EXISTING IRISH UNITS SERVING WITH THE UNITED NATIONS PEACE-KEEPING FORCE ARRIVED IN NICOSIA, CYPRUS, ON WEDNESDAY (13 APRIL). THE EIRE GOVERNMENT HAVE DECIDED TO CONTINUE PROVIDING TROOPS FOR THE FORCE, DESPITE WARNINGS THAT THE UN MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO MEET ITS COST.

    THE AIRLIFT OF REPLACEMENT TROOPS WILL CONTINUE UNTIL 18 APRIL, WHEN THE 518-STRONG IRISH FORCE WILL HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY ROTATED.

    ARRIVAL OF THE IRISH TROOPS WAS EVIDENCE OF THE EIRE GOVERNMENT'S CHANGE OF MIND OVER PARTICIPATION IN THE PEACE-KEEPING FORCE, WHICH, IT WAS REPORTED TO THE UNITED NATIONS, HAD A DEFICIT OF ABOUT 6,800,000 DOLLARS (2,428,000 STERLING).

    LAST MONTH, EIRE STATED THAT HER TROOPS WOULD BE COMPLETELY WITHDRAWN UNLESS THE UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY GENERAL, U THANT, APPEALED TO THE EIRE GOVERNMENT TO RECONSIDER THE DECISION.

    IT WAS U THANT WHO IN MARCH HAD TOLD THE SECURITY COUNCIL OF THE FORCE'S FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES, WHICH IS FINANCED BY VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS. WHEN THE COUNCIL VOTED TO EXTEND THE MANDATE OF THE FORCE BEYOND JUNE, HE WARNED THAT UNLESS MORE FUNDS WERE FORTHCOMING, ALL THE COSTS WOULD NOT BE MET.

    THE UNITED NATIONS FORCE HAS BEEN IN CYPRUS SINCE MARCH 1964. WITH A STRENGTH OF ABOUT 5,000 MEN, IT DRAWS ITS TROOPS FROM BRITAIN, CANADA, FINLAND, SWEDEN AND DENMARK, AS WELL AS EIRE. THERE ARE ALSO SMALL GROUPS OF CIVILIAN POLICE FROM AUSTRALIA, AUSTRIA, DENMARK, SWEDEN AND NEW ZEALAND.
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