Throughout history, the island of Cyprus has attracted attention with its rich cultural heritage, strategic location and political turmoil. One of the symbols that most strikingly reflects the divided history of this island is undoubtedly the “Green Line”. This line that separates the two parts of the island is not only a geographical boundary, but also a reflection of complex political dynamics and historical events. While the Green Line divides the two sides of Cyprus and the capital, it also mirrors the past, current situation and hopes of the island people with the stories it contains.
The Green Line is a term used to express a region that provides a distinction between the de facto existing Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. This line, called “Prasini Grammi” in Greek and “Green Line” in English, separates the two parts of the island. At the same time, this line also divides Nicosia, the capital of both sides of Cyprus.
The Green Line has been mostly under the control of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus since March 1964. Along the line, there are regions such as Erenköy (formerly Koççina) located in the northwest of the island. Erenköy is known as an area abandoned by the civilian population and where there is only a military presence. These regions continue to exist as small regions surrounded by the UN-controlled Green Line and attached to Northern Cyprus.
History of the Green Line
By the mid-1950s, Britain, the guarantor state of Cyprus, had a military presence on the island to protect the Straits and Mediterranean Sea against the Soviet Union. At the same time, the United Nations offered the parties in Cyprus the right to determine their own future. In 1956, Britain did not want to leave Cyprus to Greece after losing the Suez Canal. However, GreeceenosisHe was acting in line with the ideal of ” and ignoring the Turkish presence on the island.
The dominant British colonial administration of the period tried to prevent ethnic conflicts by placing wire fences between Turkish and Greek quarters for the first time in 1956. Later, with the determination of Nicosia as the capital, these fences became a border separating the Turkish and Greek regions. After Cyprus gained its independence in 1960, major cities such as Limassol, Famagusta, Larnaca and Paphos, including Nicosia, were brought under two separate municipal administrations in accordance with Article 173 of the Constitution of the Republic of Cyprus. However, these steps exacerbated ethnic conflicts rather than halted them and caused mutual migrations between cities, villages and neighborhoods.
In 1961, Greece began to send weapons and soldiers to the island within the framework of the Akritas plan. In the same period, activities for the purpose of ethnic terrorism EOKAincreased the violence against the Turkish Cypriots. While the Turkish Cypriots were massacred, England, the guarantor of the island, remained silent. With Turkey’s decision to intervene in the island, the USA prevented the use of its own weapons during the intervention.
On December 30, 1963, the Green Line was drawn by the British commander, General Peter George Francis Young, by the “Peace Keeper Force”, consisting of the soldiers of the United Kingdom, Turkey and Greece, the guarantor countries of the Zurich and London Agreements. The creation of this line, “bloody christmasIt aimed to prevent the uncontrolled spread of conflict and mutual killings, also known as ”. Then this lineGreen Linenamed ”.
However, today’s Green Line borders were determined by the 1974 Cyprus Operation. During this period, the line was also known as the “Attila Line”. Since then, it has served as a demilitarized buffer zone covering an area of approximately 346 km². Since Nicosia International Airport is located in this buffer zone, it has not been used since 16 August 1974.
The Green Line Today
The width of the Green Line is only 3.30 meters at its narrowest part in the center of Nicosia, and reaches 7.4 kilometers at its widest point near Atyognu village. This line includes a part of Dhekelia British Autonomous Eastern Base Area. Pile village, which is among these regions, is one of the rare villages where Turkish and Greek people live together on the island of Cyprus. In order to manage this buffer zone, the Council of the European Union adopted the Green Line Regulation on 29 April 2004. This regulation regulates the transit of persons and goods through the region and determines the rules of mutual transit.
Along the 180-kilometer-long Green Line, there are nine checkpoints providing reciprocal crossings to both sides:
Ledra Palace Gate: Located in Nicosia city center and open only to pedestrians, cyclists and diplomatic vehicles. It got its name from the conversion of the former Ledra Palace Hotel into the command center of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus.
Pergamos or Beyarmudu Gate: It is located between Pile and Beyarmudu and passes through the British Autonomous Region.
Black Knight or Akyar Gate: It is located between Aynikola and Famagusta in the British Autonomous East Base Area. These three checkpoints were opened on 23 April 2003.
Lokmacı Gate: Used only for pedestrians and cyclists in Nicosia city centre. It was opened on April 3, 2008.
Ayos Dometyos, Aydemet or Metehan Gate: It is the only point in Nicosia where motorized civilian vehicles are allowed to pass.
Zodhia or Bostancı Gate: It is only open for motor vehicles between Güzelyurt/Morfu and Astromerit. It entered service on 31 August 2005.
Kato Pirgos or Yesilirmak Gate: It is between Aşağı Birgo and Yeşilırmak and opened on 14 October 2010.
Sconce or Apliç Door: It is located in the south of Lefke and opened on 12 November 2018 together with the Derinya Gate.
Deryneia or Derinya Gate: It is located in the south of Famagusta, at the entrance of Derinya town.
Approximately 6.5 million of the construction cost of these doors was covered by EU funds. Cypriots can switch in either direction with their Republic of Cyprus or TRNC identity. Due to the global corona virus pandemic in 2020, the crossings were stopped for a long time with exceptions, but as of June 4, 2021, the checkpoints were opened to mutual crossings again.
