Nicosia has reiterated its positions and has intensified its representations to the UN peacekeeping force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) regarding the recent Turkish provocations in an area of the buffer zone cultivated by Greek Cypriot farmers, living in Deneia village, a source has told the Cyprus News Agency (CNA) following a meeting on this issue, held on Tuesday at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs between MFA Cyprus Question Directory officials and UNFICYP officers.
We conveyed our positions to the UN and we have intensified our representations, given the fact that it has been confirmed that there has been a violation of the status quo by the Turkish army, the same source told CNA, adding that “we remain in contact with UNFICYP” on the issue.
Meanwhile, responding to a question by CNA, UNFICYP spokesperson Aleem Siddique said that “the mission has regular meetings with both sides to discuss issues related to the buffer zone.”
A meeting was also held earlier this morning between the MFA officials and Deneia community leader Christakis Panayiotou, who told CNA that he thoroughly briefed them about what happened in the buffer zone.
Panayiotou also said that he expects to be briefed about the results of the deliberations held between the Foreign Ministry and UNFICYP.
According to Deneia community leaders the people from the Turkish occupied areas, who entered the buffer zone to cultivate the land there have since Saturday midday stopped doing so, and are now cultivating plots of land in the occupied areas. Panayiotou noted that he believes that they are Turkish settlers and not Turkish Cypriots.
He also said that the Greek Cypriot farmers living in Deneia have for the time being stopped going into the buffer zone to cultivate the land there. “The UN and our side have asked us to be cautious and wait for a while. We will inform the UN when the Greek Cypriot farmers shall return back to continue their work in the buffer zone,” he noted.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37% of its territory.