Military of Northern Cyprus

Military of Northern Cyprus
Turkish Cypriot Security Forces
Güvenlik Kuvvetleri Komutanlığı
TCSF emblem
Founded 1976
Leadership
Commander Major General Özer Türkmen
Manpower
Military age 18
Conscription 8 to 15 months
Active personnel 9,000
Industry
Foreign suppliers  Turkey

The Turkish Cypriot Security Force (Turkish: Güvenlik Kuvvetleri Komutanlığı) is the military and security force of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, whose independence is recognized only by Turkey and the United Nations considers to be a Turkish-Occupied territory.[1][2] It is a 9,000 strong force primarily made up of conscripted Turkish Cypriot males between the ages of 20 and 40. It is a combined arms force, with land, air and naval elements.

This force is supplemented by the 30,000 strong Turkish Military Forces in Northern Cyprus stationed on the island. [3]

Contents

History

Even before independence, the Turkish Cypriot community maintained its own paramilitary force (the Türk Mukavemet Teşkilatı or TMT), trained and equipped by the Turkish Army. In 1967 this force was renamed the Mücahit (fighter), and in 1975 the Mücahit was renamed the Turkish Cypriot Security Force. [4] In 1974, Turkey led a land invasion of Northern Cyprus with the aim of protecting the Turkish minority population after a Greek-inspired coup brought a threat of union of the island with Greece. Since then there have been no major fight for Cyprus and the nation continues to be an independent country, though strongly linked with Turkey militarly and politically.

Organization

The Turkish Cypriot Security Force was commanded by a General officer of the Turkish Army, who had both operational and administrative responsibilities, as well as control over the police force. The commander was responsible to the prime minister of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus ("TRNC") through the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Defense. A unified military-civilian defense staff of the ministry was responsible for defense policy and strategy. [5]

Although legally separate from the Turkish Army on the island, the Turkish Cypriot Security Force was believed to remain under the de facto operational control of the Turkish forces. It also depended on Turkey for training and equipment. Most of its officers were regular Turkish Army officers on secondment. Observers believed that many of its expenses were absorbed by the Turkish Army.[6]

Turkish Cypriot males were liable to conscription at age eighteen for a twenty-four-month period of service. However, this is easily overcome by wealthy individuals following a moderate monetary fee. Discharged soldiers served in the reserves until the age of fifty. The number of first-line and second-line reserves was estimated at 10,000 and 16,000, respectively, as of 2009.

Strength

As of 2009, the strength of this force was believed to be about 9,000. It was organized into fifteen battalions in two brigades, infantry battalions armed with light weapons plus some artillery units equipped with mortars. [7]

Map of Cyprus showing current political divisions

Equipment

Infantry Weapons

  • Zigana Pistol

Armoured Personnel Carriers

  • Otokar Akrep 50
  • Otokar Engerek 70

Aircraft

See also

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Library of Congress Country Studies.

  • Christopher Hitchens - Cyprus, Hostage to History: From the Ottomans to Kissinger
  1. ^ UN Security Council Resolution 541 - 1983
  2. ^ UN Security Council Resolution 550 - 1984
  3. ^ Turkey: A Country Study, p.350. Kessinger Publishing, 2004. ISBN 1419191268
  4. ^ Turkey: A Country Study, Kessinger Publishing, 2004. ISBN 1419191268
  5. ^ Turkey: A Country Study, Kessinger Publishing, 2004. ISBN 1419191268
  6. ^ Turkey: A Country Study, Kessinger Publishing, 2004. ISBN 1419191268
  7. ^ Turkey: A Country Study, Kessinger Publishing, 2004. ISBN 1419191268

External links


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Military equipment of Cyprus — FN P90 in the hands of Cypriot National Guard during a parade in Larnaca Currently, the Cyprus National Guard is a combined arms force and represents the organised air, land and sea capabilities of the Republic of Cyprus. Equipment has in the… …   Wikipedia

  • Outline of Northern Cyprus — …   Wikipedia

  • Northern Cyprus — Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Kuzey Kıbrıs Türk Cumhuriyeti …   Wikipedia

  • Northern Cyprus and the European Union — EU Northern Cypriot relations European Union …   Wikipedia

  • Constitution of Northern Cyprus — Northern Cyprus This article is part of the series: Politics and government of Northern Cyprus …   Wikipedia

  • Turkish Armed Forces in Northern Cyprus — KTBK logo The Turkish Armed Forces in Northern Cyprus[1] officially the Cyprus Turkish Peace Force (Turkish: Kıbrıs Türk Barış Kuvvetleri or KTBK). In their first foreign combat operations since the Korean War, Turkish troops engaged in the… …   Wikipedia

  • Women in Northern Cyprus — The women in Northern Cyprus are inhabitants of the internationally unrecognised Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, where they have been contributors to the fields of science, law and justice.[1] Contents 1 Politics 2 Female politicians 3 …   Wikipedia

  • List of diplomatic missions of Northern Cyprus — Northern Cyprus This article is part of the series: Politics and government of Northern Cyprus …   Wikipedia

  • Foreign relations of Northern Cyprus — The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, due to its unrecognized status internationally, is dependent upon Turkey to facilitate its contacts with the international community. Northern Cyprus is a self proclaimed entity, its relations with the… …   Wikipedia

  • Cyprus dispute — Cyprus This article is part of the series: Politics and government of Cyprus Constitution Cyprus dispute …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”