Tuesday, 12th February 2008
Cyprus at the crossroads
Following hostilities between Greek and Turkish Cypriots in July and August 1974 and the subsequent invasion and occupation of Northern Cyprus by Turkey, the UN Security Council adopted a number of resolutions which have affected the functioning of the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP). Ceasefire lines and a buffer zone were established between the areas controlled by the opposing forces. The ceasefire lines extend approximately 180 kilometres across the island. The buffer zone between the lines varies in width from less than 20 metres to some 7 kilometres, and it covers about 3 per cent of the island, including some of the most valuable agricultural land. The so-called ‘Green Line’, which splits Cyprus into two parts, runs right through the heart of the capital city Nicosia. It is possible to peer over the heavily-guarded wall into a no-mans land of deserted shops and weed-infested streets. In the distance, beyond the buffer zone, the sound of the Mullah calling the faithful to prayer in the mosque, echoes across the crumbling buildings.
Strict adherence to the military status quo in the buffer zone, as recorded by UNFICYP at the time, has become a vital element in preventing a recurrence of fighting. UNFICYP maintains surveillance through a system of observation posts, and through air, vehicle and foot patrols. In addition to maintaining the military status quo, UN peace keepers must also preserve the integrity of the buffer zone from unauthorized entry or activities by civilians. Tensions often flare between the young military conscripts who glare at each other across the divide, sometimes only metres apart. It is at times like these that the UN peace keepers have to step in and literally keep the peace. In addition, UN police maintain close cooperation and liaison with the Cyprus police and the Turkish Cypriot police on matters having inter-communal aspects. Together with the line units they contribute to law and order in the buffer zone and assist in investigations and in the Force's humanitarian activities.
Another major function entrusted to UN Peacekeeping Force is to encourage the fullest possible resumption of normal civilian activity in the buffer zone. To this end, it facilitates the resumption of farming in the buffer zone, assists both communities on matters related to the supply of electricity and water across the lines, facilitates normal contacts between Greek and Turkish Cypriots and provides emergency medical services. UNFICYP also delivers mail and Red Cross messages across the lines. Daily, over 2500 Turkish Cypriots cross the green line to work in Southern Cyprus, returning to their homes in the North each evening. It is their earnings and a gradually expanding tourist trade that keeps Turkish Cyprus going.
In the absence of a political settlement to the Cyprus problem, the mandate of UNFICYP has been periodically extended. At the end of every six-month mandate period, the Secretary-General has reported to the Security Council that in the light of the situation on the ground and of political developments, the continued presence of the Force remains indispensable in helping to maintain calm on the island. For its part, the Council has regularly extended the mandate of the Force for six-month periods.
It has been said often that if the United Nations wants a solution on Cyprus, they have to first find a solution to the issue of the missing persons. They have to close the wound. Some 1,500 Greek Cypriots and 500 Turkish Cypriots are still officially registered as missing on Cyprus.
Some of those missing persons date back to the fighting which broke out between the two communities in the 1960s. During and after the 1974 Turkish invasion, thousands of Greek Cypriots were arrested and detained in camps by the Turkish army and by Turkish Cypriot paramilitary organisations acting under the instructions and responsibility of the Turkish army. Over 2000 prisoners of war were transferred to Turkey and detained in Turkish prisons. Some of them were not released and are still missing. Hundreds of other Greek Cypriots, both soldiers and civilians (including old people, women and children) disappeared in the areas under Turkish occupation and are still missing.
The Greek Cypriots argue that this amounts to a multiple violation of basic and fundamental human rights. The Turkish Cypriot side argues that many of the missing were, in fact, direct war casualties before the 1974 intervention took place and died in Greek Cypriot internal fighting. What remains certain is that these people, from both sides, have never been seen alive again.
The UN established a Committee on Missing Persons (CMP) in 1981 to investigate the fate of the disappeared. A joint team of Greek and Turkish Cypriot scientists is finally providing some answers. They have begun excavating mass graves all over Cyprus, led there by those who actually saw what happened.
Some of the bones recovered from an estimated 250 bodies have been reassembled into partial skeletons and identified using DNA samples. The exhumations are laying bare evidence of terrible violence committed by and against both communities on this island. The three members of the Committee on Missing Persons, 1 Greek Cypriot, 1 Turkish Cypriot and 1 UN representative, have some heart-rending tales of how they have broken the news to relatives. Most family members are desperate for information about how their relatives died. They want to know if they suffered. Most are deeply grateful to the CMP for finally uncovering the truth and for returning the remains of their loved ones so that they can be properly laid to rest and mourned.
A Greek Cypriot mother said: "I know that it doesn't matter what your nation or religion is, the feeling of those who have missing loved ones is the same everywhere - pain."
Hopefully the work of the CMP will begin the healing process for Cyprus and allow it to enjoy a rich future as a reunited federal State and a full member of the European Union, with the human rights and fundamental freedoms of each and every citizen fully protected. The overwhelming majority of Turkish Cypriots share this vision and long for reunification, and a common future in the European Union, with all the safeguards of a modern, democratic and effective State.
