Jump to content

United Nations Buffer Zone in Cyprus

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Stefandelmarex (talk | contribs) at 19:39, 8 June 2008 (..). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

File:PHOT0093.JPG
UN Buffer Zone in Cyprus

The United Nations Buffer Zone in Cyprus runs for more than 300 km along the Green Line, which partitions the island of Cyprus into a southern area, administered by the Greeks, namely:Republic of Cyprus, and a northern area, administered by the Turks, namely: Northern Cyprus.

The former is a member of the United Nations and the European Union and has diplomatic relations with more than 170 other countries,[1] and the latter has various diplomatic representations in some countries.

History

A "security zone" was established after the Tripartite Conference of Geneva in July 1974. Pursuant to UNSC Resolution 353 (1974)[2], 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.


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. [3]

The UN buffer zone is shown in blue on the map

After a nearly 30-year ban on crossings, the Turkish and Greek Cypriot administrations significantly eased travel restrictions across the dividing line in April 2003, allowing each other to cross at the Ledra Palace Crossing just outside the walls of old Nicosia. These are the crossings now available :

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 [1]. Generally, citizens of any country are permitted to cross the line, including Greek and Turkish Cypriots. Passports are required for entry into the Northern Cyprus, but they are not stamped.

Deaths within the Buffer Zone

Tasos Isaak beaten to death 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.[4]

Solomos Solomou shot by Kenan Akin and Erdan Emanet.

Another man, Solomos Solomou, was shot by Turkish troops during the same protests on 14 August 1996.[5] 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.[6] 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[7] and arrest warrants for both were issued via Interpol.[8]

See also

References

  1. ^ MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS - Bilateral Relations
  2. ^ Text of the UNSC Resolution 353 (1974)
  3. ^ http://www0.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=12576&Cr=cyprus&Cr1
  4. ^ "2nd Clash Stirs Hostilities on Divided Cyprus". Washington Post. Aug 15, 1996. Retrieved 2007-10-29. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  5. ^ "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)
  6. ^ 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)
  7. ^ "Solomou case admitted by Human Rights Court". Presswire. July 9, 1999. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  8. ^ Christou, Jean (Tuesday, November 11, 1997). "Denktash 'minister' on Interpol list over Solomou killing". Cyprus Mail. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)



Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=United_Nations_Buffer_Zone_in_Cyprus&oldid=218014547"