UN Buffer Zone in Cyprus

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). Image File history File links File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Separation barriers (separation walls, security fences) are constructed to prevent the movement of people across a certain line or border or to separate two populations. ... 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (the link is to a full 1974 calendar). ... Official language Turkish Capital LefkoÅŸa (Nicosia) , Founder Rauf DenktaÅŸ President Mehmet Ali Talat Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer House Speaker Fatma EkenoÄŸlu Area  - Total  - % water 3,355 km² 2. ... Turkish Cypriots are those inhabitants of Cyprus who are ethnically Turkish, as opposed to those who are of Greek (the Greek Cypriots) or other ethnicities. ... Greek Cypriot refers to the Greek-speaking population of Cyprus. ... Nicosia, Cyprus For the Italian town, see Nicosia, Sicily Nicosia, known locally as Lefkosia (Greek: Λευκωσία; also colloquially Khora,Χώρα or LefkoÅŸa (Turkish), is the capital and largest city of Cyprus. ...

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. United Nations - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ...

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. De facto is a Latin expression that means in fact or in practice. It is commonly used as opposed to de jure (meaning by law) when referring to matters of law or governance or technique (such as standards), that are found in the common experience as created or developed without... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The UK Sovereign Base Areas are those British military base areas located in countries formerly ruled by the United Kingdom which were retained by it and not handed over when those countries attained independence. ... Map of Akrotiri (Western) SBA Akrotiri (also known as the Western Sovereign Base Area or WSBA) and Dhekelia (also known as the Eastern Sovereign Base Area or ESBA) are UK Sovereign Base Areas (SBAs) in Cyprus, a former British Crown Colony. ...

See also

• Separation barrier
• Cyprus dispute

Separation barriers (separation walls, security fences) are constructed to prevent the movement of people across a certain line or border or to separate two populations. ... The Cyprus Dispute is the conflict between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots and also Republic of Cyprus and Turkey over Cyprus, an island in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. ...

External links

• Associated Press: Barriers Slowly Eroding for Cyprus