There was no incursion inside the buffer zone at Dhenia village, UN peacekeeping force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) spokesperson Aleem Siddique has told the Cyprus News Agency (CNA) invited to comment on a complaint by Dhenia community leader Christakis Panayiotou, who said that Turkish settlers entered on Tuesday with their tractors into the buffer zone to cultivate the land of Greek Cypriot farmers.
“The tractor shown was clearly, according to our records, north of the ceasefire line. There was no tractor inside the buffer zone,” Siddique told CNA. He went on to say that “we have been in touch with both sides on this incident.”
“The tractor shown was clearly, according to our records, north of the ceasefire line. There was no tractor inside the buffer zone, Siddique said”
On his part, Panayiotou insists that there were new violations on Tuesday by the Turkish settlers in the UN-controlled buffer zone at Dhenia village, in Nicosia district. In statements to CNA, he noted that UNFICYP officers went to the area very late, noting that “unfortunately the UN position is not right.”
He also said that this incident concerns the land of Greek Cypriot farmers where violations were recorded last year as well.
Panayiotou also noted that he informed the Foreign Ministry of the Republic about the incident.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37% of its territory.
