UN Buffer Zone in Cyprus
From Free net encyclopedia
The UN Buffer Zone in Cyprus is a 300 km (187 mile) separation barrier along the 1974 Green Line (or ceasefire line) between the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and the internationally recognised Republic of Cyprus. Constructed by Turkey, it served to separate the northern 37% (mostly inhabited by Turks and Turkish Cypriots) of Cyprus, occupied by Turkish troops since 1974, from the southern part (mostly inhabited by ethnic Greek Cypriots and other non-Turks), and splits the capital Nicosia (Lefkosa) in two. This ethnic land separation was never in Cypriot history obvious on the island, but established by the Turkish troops after the expulsion by force of around 200.000 Greeks from the North, and the forced move of around 60.000 Turkish Cypriots from South to North. The "Green Line" is also referred to as the Turkish Cyprus barrier, or the Atilla Line after the name given to the 1974 military intervention by Turkey (Operation Atilla).
The barrier itself consists of concrete walls, barbed wire fencing, watch-towers, anti-tank ditches, and minefields. Parts of it are patrolled by United Nations peacekeeping forces.
Tensions nearby the barrier rose several times in the past, with the latest being in '96, when in a demonstration at Dherynia region, a Greek Cypriot was beaten to death by Turkish Cypriots while trying to cross the Green line, and the next day another was shot and killed trying to climb up on a Turkish flag-pole.
After a near 30 year ban on crossings, the Turkish Cypriot de facto government significantly eased travel restrictions across the barrier in April 2003, by opening four crossing points (two into the UK sovereign base of Dhekelia). Since Cyprus joined the European Union (de facto only the southern part joined), travel restrictions have been abolished for all EU citizens.