both president makarios and dr. küçük issued calls for peace, but these were ignored. meanwhile, within a week of the violence flaring up, the turkish army contingent had moved out of its barracks and seized the most strategic position on the island across the nicosia to kyrenia road, the historic jugular vein of the island. they retained control of that road until 1974, at which time it acted as a crucial link in turkey's military invasion. from 1963 up to the point of the turkish invasion of 20 july 1974, greek cypriots who wanted to use the road could only do so if accompanied by a un convoy.