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Canadian peacekeeping has been an international saviour to many countries that have struggled to achieve peace. Canada has earned a reputation for giving top quality efforts to preserve or create peace around the world, sometimes putting Canada at a loss. Professor Albert Legal of the department of political science, Laval University, has estimated the financial outlay by Canada to international peacekeeping (excluding Korea) from 1949 - 1980 at 226 million dollars, less than one-half of one percent of the total budget of the Department of National Defense over that period. In the past Canada has sent forces to over thirty-five troubled countries.
Today Canada is participating in sixteen peacekeeping efforts (See Appendix 1). The amount Canada has sacrificed to promote world peace has been immense. Such efforts prove that Canada has an outstanding image in the world and that their virtuous deeds outweigh the minor mishaps that may happen. In Greek mythology Cyprus (See Appendix 2) is known as the island of love.
However, on November 30, 1963, the President of the Republic, Archbishop Makarios, attempted to amend previously agreed constitutional arrangements. He argued the existing constitution was causing the two communities to be drawn farther apart, rather than closer together. Makarios proposal included: the abolition of the veto power of the president (Greek) and vice president (Turkey); the abolition of separate majorities required from either community in their House of Representatives in order to enact certain laws; the enactment of unified municipalities; the unification of the administration of justice; and the reduction of the agreed proportion of Turkish-Cypriots in the public service and military force. Trouble soon erupted.
Various acts of violence were present in the area during December of that year and again early in 1964. The imminent threat of invasion by Turkish armed forces and the likelihood of war between Greece and Turkey were countered by United Nations (UN) mediation. On March 11, Turkey announced an invasion would begin unless the UN was on the island in a few days. Paul Martin, Canadas Secretary of State for External Affairs, flew down to New York on March 12, to meet U Thant. On Friday the 13 th, Martin made phone calls to various capitals, and by 6: 00 p.
m. U Thant was announcing that a UN force would be sent to Cyprus. The same evening, in an emergency session Parliament authorized the dispatch of a Canadian contingent. Some of the troops however, had already deported for Cyprus even before the approval of the Parliament. There was a maximum of 1200 Canadians who expected to return peace to Cyprus within three months time. The first party landed in Nicosia arriving on the 15 th of March 1964.
They were followed the next day by RCAF Air Transport Commands first flight with part of the 1100 -man contingent, which was composed of the 1 st Battalion, Royal 22 e Regiment, and the reconnaissance squadron of the Royal Canadian Dragoons. Heavy vehicles and material along with 95 personnel arrived two weeks later aboard Canadas only aircraft carrier, HMCS Bonaventure. Canada being the first contingent operational at such short notices impressed Turkey enough for them to call off invasion or possible air and naval attacks. It was three months later that the entire UNFICYP force became assembled. Canada could not completely stop the historic hate between the Greek- and Turkish-Cypriots that has been around for centuries which was causing this outburst of violence. There were however triumphant moments in the years.
In mid-April, 1964, Major Patrick Tremblay, of Quebec City, commanding C Company of the Van Doo's, found himself between crossfire of Greeks and Turks in the mountains dominating the roads to the Greek-Cypriot Port of Kyrenia. When the Turks refused to stop, he ordered 60 rounds of. 30 -caliber fire in their general direction, which resulted in more cooperation. There were also many instances of individual heroism. One example was a reconnaissance patrol led by Company Sergeant-Major Georges Outlet of Levis, Quebec. He received the British Empire medal for rescuing twelve Greek-Cypriot farmers from Turkish gunfire and successfully negotiating a cease-fire on April 10.
The Canadian peacekeepers have been on Cyprus for over 20 years. While their presence has helped strengthen the islands economy, Cyprus has given the Canadians who have served on the island a renewed appreciation of their Canadian homeland. Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Mitchell who command the 2 nd Regiment, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery in Cyprus from October 1985 to March 1986 remarked: Seeing what the Greek-and Turkish-Cypriots did to their beautiful island in the Mediterranean makes one all the more aware and grateful for the peace and stability we enjoy in Canada. Had it not been for the immediate reactions of Paul Martin and the Canadian Peacekeeping troops, a horrible incident may have occurred that day.
The trouble that brought about UN intervention in the Congo (See Appendix 3) came about as a result of poor preparation for independence by the colonial administration of Belgium. The Congo, about one quarter the size of Canada, was ruled by a governor general in Leopoldville, the capital, and a minister for colonies in Brussels. The country was divided into six provinces. In May 1960 the first elections were held in the Belgian Congo, a native administration led by Patrice Lumumba, took office on 30 June and the colony became independent.
Soon afterwards, the 25, 000 -member native army / police Force Publique mutinied against its white officers, resulting in the breakdown of law and order. The new government asked the UN for troops on the 12 th to stop the Belgian aggression that threatened world peace. By July 19 th, there were ten thousand Belgian troops in the Congo. Belgian troops withdrew as UN troops took over. By the beginning of September the last Belgian troops had left. The UN decided to send in a security force for the Congo in order to assist the new government to restore law and order.
The force rose from 1 200 troops on 15 July to over 14 000 troops within a month and eventually rose to a maximum of 20 000 soldiers. Initially, Canada took a small role sending few troops and military paraphernalia. On 30 July Diefenbaker announced that Canada would be making a substantial contribution to the Congo force due to publi...
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Research essay sample on Law And Order Turkish Cypriots
