Cyprus’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs is in contact with the local authorities and the United Nations Peacekeeping Force to restore Greek Cypriot farmers’ access to their land and prevent any violation of the status of the buffer zone in the community of Deneia, in the outskirts of Nicosia, Government Spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis told the Cyprus News Agency.
He said that the access to their land must be restored, in accordance with the terms of UNFICYP’s mandate and the UN Security Council Resolutions.
He noted that the Government closely monitors the situation, pointing out that the Turkish occupying forces’ actions are unacceptable and they question the status of the buffer zone. The Spokesperson said that the Turkish occupying army is once again attempting to create a faits accomplis within the buffer zone, in violation of international law and the UN Security Council Resolutions.
He went on to say that the Republic of Cyprus will continue to act with determination and full adherence to international law.
The new incident took place Saturday morning. CNA learned that a Turkish military vehicle entered the buffer zone and harassed a Greek Cypriot farmer who had gone to cultivate his field.
UNFICYP rushed to the area. As CNA learned after the G/c farmer left, the Turkish army returned and that was when UN also arrived to the area for the second time.
Turkish soldiers and the UN peacekeepers left from the buffer a while later.