Hellenic Force in Cyprus
| Hellenic (Greek) Force in Cyprus Ελληνική Δύναμη Κύπρου (ΕΛΔΥΚ) |
|
|---|---|
| Active | 1959–present |
| Country |
 Cyprus
|
| Allegiance |
 Kingdom of Greece (1959–1973) Greece (1973–present) |
| Branch | Army |
| Type | Mechanized Group |
| Role | Military Force |
| Size | c. 1000 |
| Part of |
 Hellenic Army
|
| Garrison/HQ | Nicosia, Cyprus ("Camp of Major Sotirios Staurianakos") |
| Nickname(s) | |
| Motto(s) |
Το όμαιμόν τε και ομόγλωσσον και ομόθρησκον και ομότροπον (Greek: The same blood/ancestry and common language and common religion and common traditions) |
| Uniform Camouflage | Greek Lizard |
| Service Rifle | G3 |
| Engagements | Turkish invasion of Cyprus |
| Website | Hellenic Army Official Website |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
Dionysios Arbouzis (first) |
| Insignia | |
| Patch of the formal uniforms |  |
| Patch of the everyday and combat uniforms (low visibility) |
 |
| Abbreviation | ΕΛΔΥΚ or ΕΛ.ΔΥ.Κ. |
The Hellenic (Greek) Force in Cyprus (Greek: Ελληνική Δύναμη Κύπρου), commonly known in its abbreviated form as ELDYK or EL.DY.K. (Greek: ΕΛΔΥΚ or ΕΛ.ΔΥ.Κ., Greek pronunciation: [elðˈik]), is the permanent, regiment-sized Greek military force stationed in the Republic of Cyprus. Its role is to help and support the Cypriot National Guard. Soldiers are selected from the ranks of conscripts doing their military service in the Greek army.
ELDYK was formed on November 20, 1959 at Agios Stefanos, Athens, soon after the Zürich and London Agreements established the independence of Cyprus. Per the subsequent Treaty of Guarantee, Greece, along with Turkey and the United Kingdom, would be the new state's guarantor powers. To that end, the permanent presence of a small military detachment from both Greece and Turkey was authorized, in addition to the British military presence in the Sovereign Base Areas. It was established as a tripartite headquarters of Greece, Turkey and Cyprus. In this headquarters belonged the Hellenic Force in Cyprus with 950 men and the Turkish Force in Cyprus (Greek: Τουρκική Δύναμη Κύπρου, abbreviated: ΤΟΥΡΔΥΚ or ΤΟΥΡ.ΔΥ.Κ, Greek pronunciation: [turˈðik]) with 650 men, as it was agreed in the Zürich and London Agreement.
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