United Nations Buffer Zone in Cyprus
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The United Nations Buffer Zone in Cyprus spans for over 300 km (187 miles) along the Green Line which de facto partitions the island of Cyprus into a Southern area, administered by the internationally-recognized government of the Republic of Cyprus and a Northern area, with a local administration calling itself the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (recognized only by the Republic of Turkey).
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[edit] History
The establishment of a "security zone" was established after the Tripartite Conference of Geneva in July 1974. Pursuant to UNSC Resolution 353 (1974)[1], 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 meant as follows:[2]
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.
On the northern side of the Buffer Zone, there exists a barrier constructed by the Turkish military. It consists mainly of barbed wire fencing, a few concrete wall segments, watch-towers, anti-tank ditches, and minefields.[citation needed]
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 located just outside the walls of old Nicosia. Today a total of 5 crossings exist :
- Astromerits/Zodhia (by car only)
- Agios Dometios/Kermia/Metehan
- Ledra Palace (on foot only)
- Pergamos / Beyarmudu
- Strovilia near Agios Nikolaos
Further crossings are planned but have not yet materialized. Prior to Cypriot accession to the European Union, there were restrictions on Green Line crossings by foreigners imposed by the Republic of Cyprus, but these have been abolished for EU-citizens by EU-regulation 866/2004 [1]. Generally citizens of any country are permitted to cross the green line, including Greek and Turkish Cypriots. In an attempt to update the status of the legally invalid Turkish Administration, passports are required for entry into the area not under the Republic's effective control, but they are not stamped.
[edit] Deaths within the Buffer Zone
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 August 11 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 [3].
Another man, Solomos Solomou, was shot by Turkish troops during the same protests on 14 August 1996. [4] 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.[5] An investigation followed by authorities of the Republic of Cyprus and the killers were identified and named as Kenan Akin and Erdan Emanet. International legal proceedings were instigated[6] and arrest warrants for both were issued via Interpol.[7]
[edit] See also
[edit] Recent Developments
- Reuters: Greek Cypriots begin removing Nicosia barrier
- Agence France Presse: Greek Cypriots begin dismantling dividing wall
[edit] References
- ^ Text of the UNSC Resolution 353 (1974)
- ^ From the UNFICYP website
- ^ "2nd Clash Stirs Hostilities on Divided Cyprus", Washington Post, Aug 15, 1996. Retrieved on 2007-10-29.
- ^ "1 killed, 11 wounded as Turks shoot at Greek Cypriots armed with stones", Associated Press, August 15, 1996. Retrieved on 2007-10-29.
- ^ Kessel, Jerrold. "Cyprus conflict comes to a boil, U.N., U.S. fault Turkey for Greek Cypriot deaths", CNN.com, August 15, 1996.
- ^ "Solomou case admitted by Human Rights Court.", Presswire, July 9, 1999.
- ^ Christou, Jean. "Denktash 'minister' on Interpol list over Solomou killing", Cyprus Mail, Tuesday, November 11, 1997.
[edit] External links
- Maps of the Buffer Zone, from the UNFICYP website
- Associated Press: Barriers Slowly Eroding for Cyprusel:Πράσινη Γραμμή
zh:賽普勒斯聯合國緩衝區
