Cyprus – The Green Zone

A buffer zone in Cyprus was first established in 1964. The UN sent peace keepers to prevent a recurrence of fighting, following intercommunal violence between the Greek and Turkish Cypriots that had flared up in December 1963.

After a Greek Cypriot coup d’état and a Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974, the United Nations Security Council extended and expanded the mission, and a 180 km long (and up tp 7.4 km wide) demilitarized and depopulated Buffer Zone was established: this “Green Line” de facto splits the island in two. The UN mission in Cyprus, UNFICYP, – keeping peace, patrolling the buffer zone etc. – is the UN’s cheapest and costs some EUR 50 million a year.

Cyprus, Buffer Zone (separating Greek Southern and Turkish Northern Cyrprus), international airport, finished 1968, deserted since the Turkish invasion in 1974. Deserted hangar.

Cyprus. The "Green Line" in Nicosia: the UN controlled narrow strip separating Greek and Turkish Cypriots in the capital. This UN post is named after Trooper Joseph H. Campbell of the Royal Canadian Dragoons, killed in a traffic accident whilst on UN duty on 31 July 1964. UN71 was built in increase the UNICYP presence after the buildings were emptied of people ("Unmanning Agreement") in 1989.

Cyprus. The "Green Line" (as the Buffer Zone in Nicosia is called): the UN controlled narrow strip separating Greek and Turkish Cypriots in the capital.
Betty's Bridge (named after the Speaker of the House of Commons, Betty Boothroyd, who visited the Buffer Zone in 1997), the lowest lying section of the Buffer Zone (Green Line) in the City which frequently floods during the winter months. — Cyprus. The "Green Line" (as the Buffer Zone in Nicosia is called): the UN controlled narrow strip separating Greek and Turkish Cypriots in the capital. Betty's Bridge (named after the Speaker of the House of Commons, Betty Boothroyd, who visited the Buffer Zone in 1997), the lowest lying section of the Buffer Zone (Green Line) in the City which frequently floods during the winter months.

Cyprus. The "Green Line" (as the Buffer Zone in Nicosia is called): the UN controlled narrow strip separating Greek and Turkish Cypriots in the capital. Maple House was originally a small arcade type shopping center with an apartment block. Its underground car park houses 47 “brand new” Toyota cars, all of which have between 32 and 38 miles on the clock. They were imported into Cyprus through the port of Famagusta and then driven to Nicosia. With the outbreak of the fighting, the dealer stored his vehicles in the car park and was subsequently unable to repatriate them following the de facto ceasefire.

The “Green Line” cuts right through the centre of the old town of Nicosia. In some parts, it is only one street (3.3 meters) wide. Outside of the capital, there are several deserted villages in the buffer zone. Nicosia’s international airport also lies in the Buffer Zone: its brand new terminal was opened in 1968, but since 1974 it has only been used by pigeons.

Cyprus – The Green Zone

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