UN Buffer Zone on Cyprus

The UN Buffer Zone on 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 ethnic Turkish Cypriots) of Cyprus, occupied by Turkish troops since 1974, from the southern part (mostly inhabited by ethnic Greek Cypriots), and splits the capital Nicosia in two. It 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 the barrier or to separate two populations. ... 1974 is a common year starting on Tuesday (click on link for calendar). ... The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) (Turkish: Kuzey Kıbrıs Türk Cumhuriyeti [KKTC]) is a de facto state in the northern third of the island of Cyprus, in the eastern Mediterranean. ... Nicosia, Cyprus Nicosia, known locally as Lefkosia (Greek: Λευκωσία) or Lefkoşa (Turkish), population 177,410 (1992), 200,686 (2001), is the capital of Cyprus and of the unrecognized Turkish Republic of Northern 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. The United Nations, or UN, is an international organization established in 1945 and now made up of 191 states. ...

After a near 30 year ban on crossings, the Turkish Cypriot 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. 2003 is 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. ...

See also

• Separation barrier
• Cyprus dispute

Separation barriers (separation walls, security fences) are constructed to prevent the movement of people across the barrier or to separate two populations. ... The Cyprus Dispute refers to the conflict between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots over Cyprus, an island in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. ...

External links

• Associated Press: Barriers Slowly Eroding for Cyprus