Panic in Cyprus as border tensions erupt on popular holiday island

Panic in Cyprus as border tensions erupt on popular holiday island The UN has been alerted to a new violation of the buffer zone in Cyprus. Tensions between the Greek and Turkish Cypriots in Cyprus have flared once again after the leader of a village found on the United Nations Buffer Zone reported this week another violation of Greek-owned land by "Turkish farmers". Menelaos Savva, a community leader in Avlona, which lies 12 miles west of Nicosia , has revealed that he witnessed the incident around 10.30am on Thursday (January 15) while on his way to a plot of land where he grows crops. He said he spotted Turkish farmers on the property of a Greek Cypriot resident of Avlona in the buffer zone, which violated the agreement with the UN because Turkish farmers lack permits to enter the area. Mr Savva said he has alerted both the Cyprus foreign ministry and the UN to the incident, but was left frustrated by the response. He added that Turkish farmers have begun planting not only seasonal crops but also permanent crops, such as citrus fruit. READ MORE: The former holiday hotspot turned eerie ghost town frozen in time READ MORE: The 15 countries in Europe that already have conscription After he alerted the UN, Mr Savva said two United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus ( UNFICYP ) personnel, who have been keeping the peace on the island since 1964, showed up in the area. However, they asked to see his ID and permit for entry into the buffer zone. The UNFICYP personnel then escorted him back to his vehicle, CyprusMail reported. While the main residential area of Avlona is under the de facto control of Northern Cyprus, much of its traditional agricultural land extends into the UN-patrolled "no man's land". The alert serves as a clear example of how the frozen conflict in Cyprus continues to create tensions on the ground. Cyprus has been divided for over 50 years , separated by a UN-patrolled "no man’s land" known as the Green Line. During British colonial rule (1878-1960), the island’s two main communities began pushing for different futures. While the Greek Cypriots sought unification with Greece, the Turkish Cypriots, fearing Greek dominance, advocated for the island's partition. When Cyprus gained independence in 1960, a complex power-sharing constitution was created. However, it was fragile. By 1963, the Government collapsed amid legal disputes, leading to "Bloody Christmas" and the first major wave of intercommunal violence. This is when the Green Line was first drawn in Nicosia by a British officer using a green wax pencil to separate the warring neighbourhoods. Following a 1974 Greek-backed coup aimed at annexing the island, Turkey invaded and seized the northern third of Cyprus, leading to a permanent ethnic and physical partition. Despite decades of UN-led negotiations and the South joining the EU in 2004, the island remains divided between the internationally recognised Republic of Cyprus and a Turkish-backed north.

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