Keeping the peace in the Cyprus Crisis of 1963-64

"During the Cold War the small state of Cyprus was of great strategic importance to the West. Britain, the United States and Nato all had valuable installations there; and any armed conflict between Greek and Turkish Cypriots could easily suck two nearby Nato members - Greece and Turkey - into war. When, therefore, intercommunal fighting broke out in Cyprus in December 1963, the West was deeply embarrassed. Britain was catapulted into a peacekeeping role but from the first was anxious to find partners. A scheme for a Nato-linked force came to naught, so the United Nations was turned to, eventually despatching a peacekeeping force. For six months, while the internal and international crisis bubbled, it had a very difficult time." "On the basis of national, UN and other archives from four countries, and numerous interviews with people who were politically and militarily involved, this book analyses the efforts to contain the crisis. It is an original and fascinating story."--Jacket.