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| The '''United Nations Buffer Zone in Cyprus''' has a size of 346 km², and runs for more than 300 km along the ], which partitions the ] into a southern area, effectively administered by the ], and a northern area |
The '''United Nations Buffer Zone in Cyprus''' has a size of 346 km², and runs for more than 300 km along the ], which partitions the ] into a southern area, effectively administered by the ], and a northern area controlled by the ]<ref>Christopher Hitchens, Uncorking the Genie: The Cyprus Question and Turkey's Military Rule MERIP Reports, No. 122, Turkey under Military Rule (Mar. - Apr., 1984), pp. 25-27, doi:10.2307/3011799</ref> ]. | ||
| The former is a member of the ] and the ] and has diplomatic relations with more than 170 other countries,<ref></ref> while the latter according to its own Washington, D.C. Web site, has been declared illegal by the United Nations and is “unrecognised across the world.”<ref></ref> | |||
| ==History== | ==History== | ||
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| Before Cypriot accession to the ], there were restrictions on Green Line crossings by foreigners imposed by the ], but these were abolished for EU citizens by ] 866/2004 . Generally, citizens of any country are permitted to cross the line, including Greek and Turkish Cypriots. Passports are required for entry into the area not under the ]'s effective control, but they are not stamped. | Before Cypriot accession to the ], there were restrictions on Green Line crossings by foreigners imposed by the ], but these were abolished for EU citizens by ] 866/2004 . Generally, citizens of any country are permitted to cross the line, including Greek and Turkish Cypriots. Passports are required for entry into the area not under the ]'s effective control, but they are not stamped. | ||
| == |
==Greek Cypriot protest in the Buffer Zone== | ||
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Revision as of 16:01, 17 December 2008
 | It has been suggested that Green Line (Cyprus) and Talk:United_Nations_Buffer_Zone_in_Cyprus#Merge_with_Green_Line_.28Cyprus.29 be merged into this article. (Discuss) Proposed since January 2008. |
The United Nations Buffer Zone in Cyprus has a size of 346 km², and runs for more than 300 km along the Green Line, which partitions the Republic of Cyprus into a southern area, effectively administered by the Republic of Cyprus, and a northern area controlled by the separatist Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
History
A "security zone" was established after the Tripartite Conference of Geneva in July 1974. Pursuant to UNSC Resolution 353 (1974), the foreign ministers of Greece, Turkey, and the United Kingdom convened in Geneva, Switzerland on 25 July 1974. According to UNFICYP, the text of the joint declaration transmitted to the Secretary-General of the United Nations was as follows:
A security zone of a size to be determined by representatives of Greece, Turkey, and the United Kingdom, in consultation with UNFICYP, was to be established at the limit of the areas occupied by the Turkish armed forces. This zone was to be entered by no forces other than those of UNFICYP, which was to supervise the prohibition of entry. Pending the determination of the size and character of the security zone, the existing area between the two forces was not to be entered by any forces.
The buffer zone is patrolled by the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus. Its width ranges from a few metres in Nicosia to several kilometres near the village of Athienou.
Turkish forces built a barrier on the zone's northern side, consisting mainly of barbed-wire fencing, concrete wall segments, watchtowers, anti-tank ditches, and minefields.
After a nearly 30-year ban on crossings, the Turkish Cypriot de facto administration significantly eased travel restrictions across the dividing line in April 2003, allowing Greek Cypriots to cross at the Ledra Palace Crossing just outside the walls of old Nicosia. These are the crossings now available :
- Astromeritis / Zodeia-Bostancı (by car only)
- Agios Dometios / Metehan
- Ledra Palace (on foot only)
- Ledra Street (on foot only)
- Pyla / Pergamos–Beyarmudu
- Agios Nikolaos / Strovilia-Akyar
Before Cypriot accession to the European Union, there were restrictions on Green Line crossings by foreigners imposed by the Republic of Cyprus, but these were abolished for EU citizens by EU-regulation 866/2004 . Generally, citizens of any country are permitted to cross the line, including Greek and Turkish Cypriots. Passports are required for entry into the area not under the republic's effective control, but they are not stamped.
Greek Cypriot protest in the Buffer Zone
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Tensions along the barrier have arisen several times in the past, with the latest civilian incident taking place in 1996, when in a demonstration at Deryneia, a Greek Cypriot was beaten to death by Turkish Cypriots while trying to cross the Green Line. The following day, another Greek Cypriot man was shot and killed trying to climb up a flagpole to retrieve a Turkish Cypriot flag.
In August 1996, Greek Cypriot refugees demonstrated with a march against the Turkish-supported section of Cyprus. The demonstrators' demand was the complete withdrawal of Turkish troops and the return of the refugees to their homes and properties.
On 11 August of the same year, a Greek Cypriot demonstrator, Tassos Isaak, crossed into the buffer zone, but came face to face with Turkish counter-demonstrators and was beaten to death.
Another man, Solomos Solomou, was shot by Turkish troops during the same protests on 14 August 1996. Aged 26, Solomou was one of many mourners who entered the Buffer Zone three days after Isaak's funeral, on August 14 to lay a wreath on the spot where he had been beaten to death. Solomou was fired upon by Turkish soldiers at close range as he climbed a flagpole. An investigation followed by authorities of the Republic of Cyprus and the suspects were named as Kenan Akin and Erdan Emanet. International legal proceedings were instigated and arrest warrants for both were issued via Interpol.
See also
- United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Representation in Cyprus
- No man's land
- Cyprus dispute
- Cypriot refugees
- Sovereign Base Areas Customs
- Pyla
- Louroujina Salient
- Kokkina exclave
References
- Christopher Hitchens, Uncorking the Genie: The Cyprus Question and Turkey's Military Rule MERIP Reports, No. 122, Turkey under Military Rule (Mar. - Apr., 1984), pp. 25-27, doi:10.2307/3011799
- Text of the UNSC Resolution 353 (1974)
- From the UNFICYP website
- UN starts clearing mines from Cyprus buffer zone
- "2nd Clash Stirs Hostilities on Divided Cyprus". Washington Post. August 15, 1996. Retrieved 2007-10-29.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - "1 killed, 11 wounded as Turks shoot at Greek Cypriots armed with stones". Associated Press. August 15, 1996. Retrieved 2007-10-29.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - Kessel, Jerrold (August 15, 1996). "Cyprus conflict comes to a boil, U.N., U.S. fault Turkey for Greek Cypriot deaths". CNN.com.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - "Solomou case admitted by Human Rights Court". Presswire. July 9, 1999.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - Christou, Jean (November 11, 1997). "Denktash 'minister' on Interpol list over Solomou killing". Cyprus Mail.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help)
External links
- Maps of the Buffer Zone, from the UNFICYP website
- Associated Press: Barriers Slowly Eroding for Cyprus
- Beyond the Buffer Zone: One Woman's vision for bringing new life to the No-Man's Land
| Districts of Cyprus | |
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