The United Nations Buffer Zone in Cyprus is a demilitarized zone, patrolled by the United
Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), that was established in 1964 and extended
in 1974 after the ceasefire of 16 August 1974, following the Turkish invasion of Cyprus,
and the de facto partition of the island into the area controlled by the Republic of Cyprus
(southern Cyprus save for the British Sovereign Base Areas) and the Turkish Republic of Northern
Cyprus in the North.
The zone, also known as the Green Line (Greek: Πράσινη Γραμμή, Prasini Grammi;
Turkish: Yeşil Hat), stretches for 180 kilometres (112 miles) from Paralimni in the east to
Kato Pyrgos in the west, where a separate section surrounds Kokkina.
The zone cuts through the centre of Nicosia, separating the city into southern and northern
sections.
In total, it spans an area of 346 square kilometres (134 sq mi), varying in width from less than
20 metres (66 ft) to more than 7 kilometres (4.3 mi).The line is also referred to as the
Attila Line, named after the Turkish code-name for the 1974 military intervention: Operation
Atilla.
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.
Some 10,000 people live in several villages and work on farms located within the zone;
the village of Pyla is famous for being one of the few remaining villages in Cyprus where
Greek and Turkish Cypriots still live side by side.
Other villages are Deneia, Athienou and Troulloi.
Some areas are untouched by human interference and have remained a safe haven for flora and
fauna.
== History ==
A buffer zone in Cyprus was first established in 1964, when Major-General Peter Young was
the commander of the British peace force (a predecessor of the present UN force) set up
in the wake of the inter-communal violence of the early 1960s.
After stationing his troops in different areas of Nicosia, the general drew a cease-fire
line on a map with a green chinagraph pencil, which was to become known as the "Green Line".
It later transpired that the map General Young was using had been borrowed from Major Bill
Garbutt of the 14th/20th King's Hussars, whose clerk, Lance Corporal Arnie Greenwood, had
marked the ceasefire line on the map with the only coloured writing instrument that
he had, which happened to be green.
The Green Line became impassable following the July 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus during
which Turkey captured approximately 37% of Cypriot territory, in response to a short-lived
Greek Cypriot coup.
A "security zone" was established after the Tripartite Conference of Geneva in July 1974.
Pursuant to United Nations Security Council 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 breached by any forces.
The UN Security Council then adopted the above declaration with Resolution 355.
When the coup dissolved, the Turkish Armed Forces advanced to capture approximately 37%
of the island and met the "Green Line".
The meandering Buffer Zone marks the southernmost points that the Turkish troops occupied during
the Turkish Invasion of Cyprus in August 1974, running between the ceasefire lines of the
Cypriot National Guard and Turkish army that de facto divides Cyprus into two, cutting
through the capital of Nicosia.
With the self-proclamation of the internationally unrecognized "Turkish Republic of Northern
Cyprus", the Buffer Zone became its de facto southern border.Traffic across the buffer
zone was very limited until 2003, when the number of crossings and the rules governing
them were relaxed.
== Sectors ==
=== Sector One ===
Starts at Kokkina exclave and covers approximately 90 kilometres (55 mi) to Mammari, west of
Nicosia.
Since 16 October 1993, it has been the responsibility of the Argentinian Contingent with approximately
212 soldiers.
Sector One Headquarters and Command Company are located in San Martin Camp, which is near
Skouriotissa village.
Support Company finds its home at Roca Camp, near Xeros in the north.
The two line companies are deployed along four permanently manned patrol bases while
also conducting mobile patrols from the San Martin and Roca camps.
=== Sector Two ===
Starts at Mammari, west of Nicosia and covers 30 kilometres (20 mi) to Kaimakli, east of
Nicosia.
Since 1993, it has been the responsibility of the British contingent, which deploys using
the name Operation TOSCA.
=== Sector Four === Starting at Kaimakli, east of Nicosia and
covers 65 kilometres (40 mi) to the village of Dherinia, on the east coast of Cyprus and
has been the responsibility of the Slovakian contingent, with 202 soldiers.
== Crossings ==
After a nearly 30-year ban on crossings, the Turkish Cypriot 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.
This was only made possible after the decision of the ECHR (Djavit An vs Turkey, Application
No.20652/92).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.
Generally, citizens of any country are permitted to cross the line, including Greek and Turkish
Cypriots.
A 2005 EU report stated that "a systematic illegal route through the northern part to
the government-controlled areas exists" allowing an influx of asylum seekers.
== Incidents ==
In August 1996, Greek Cypriot refugees demonstrated with a march against the Turkish occupation
of Cyprus.
The demonstrators' demand was the complete withdrawal of Turkish troops and the return
of Cypriot refugees to their homes and properties.
Among the demonstrators was Tassos Isaac who was beaten to death.Another man, Solomos Solomou,
was shot to death 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
Isaac's funeral, on 14 August to lay a wreath on the spot where he had been beaten to death.
Solomou was fired upon by Turkish soldiers when he was climbing to a flagpole to remove
the flag of Turkey.
An investigation by authorities of the Republic of Cyprus followed, 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.During the demonstrations on 14 August 1996, two British soldiers were also shot
by the Turkish forces: Neil Emery and Jeffrey Hudson, both from 39th Regiment Royal Artillery.
Bombardier Emery was shot in his arm, whilst Gunner Hudson was shot in the leg by a high
velocity rifle round and was airlifted to hospital in Nicosia then on to RAF Akrotiri.
== Activism == The buffer zone between the checkpoints that
divide Ledra Street was used as a space for activism from 15 October 2011 up until June
2012 by the Occupy Buffer Zone movement.
== See also ==
Green Line Inter-Entity Boundary Line
Cyprus dispute Cypriot refugees
Republic of Cyprus United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
Representation in Cyprus List of territories governed by the United
Nations No man's land
Sovereign Base Areas Customs Pyla
Louroujina Salient Kokkina exclave
Merlijn Twaalfhoven, did a project in Nicosia with musicians from both sides of the border