Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
The Associated Press
AP PHOTOS: Remnants of lives interrupted by war half a century ago captured in Cyprus' buffer zone
1 day ago
An abandoned piano is seen inside of an abandoned apartment in the war-torn UN buffer zone in divided capital Nicosia, Cyprus, Tuesday, June 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)
NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — A rickety piano leans crookedly against a peeling apartment wall, pots and pans filled with dust rest on a stove that has seen much better days and a book, its pages turning yellow with time, lies open next to a rusty tin can; signs of homes, once teeming with life, but suddenly abandoned as they stand frozen in time.
Fifty years ago, Turkey invaded Cyprus — five days after supporters of union with Greece mounted a coup backed by the Greek junta then ruling the country — splitting the east Mediterranean island nation along ethnic lines. Only Turkey recognizes a subsequent Turkish Cypriot declaration of independence in the island’s northern third where it keeps more than 35,000 troops.
The Associated Press was allowed unique access inside the United Nations 180-kilometer (about 110-mile) buffer zone where its troops have been situated since 1974 to preserve the peace between Turkish and Turkish Cypriot troops on one side and Greek Cypriot national guardsmen.
The marks of war are ubiquitous; from the pock-marked walls of homes and businesses targeted by large-caliber gunfire to hastily-constructed brick-and-mortar gun nests facing off each other. But the eeriest sensation comes from how a capital’s heart stopped mid-beat along the hasty exodus of people fleeing for their lives, leaving everything behind.
Utensils, a wash machine, a bottle of Cypriot beer, are seen in a kitchen inside of an abandoned apartment inside the war-torn UN buffer zone in divided capital Nicosia, Cyprus, Thursday, June 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)
The U.N. says tensions along the buffer zone are again being ratcheted up with the appearance of hundreds of new firing positions and high-tech surveillance technology with possible military applications.
Talks about forming a federation composed of Greek and Turkish-speaking zones have been stalemated since the last U.N. facilitated bid seven years ago. Many failed attempts preceded that.
Now, a Turkish and Turkish Cypriot shift away from a federation and toward a two-state deal that Greek Cypriots have dismissed outright is jeopardizing a renewed bid by U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to get the two sides back to the negotiating table.
A book is seen next of a rusty tin can inside of an abandoned apartment inside the war-torn UN buffer zone in divided capital Nicosia, Cyprus, Tuesday, June 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias) A sink of an abandoned apartment inside the war-torn UN buffer zone in divided capital Nicosia, Cyprus, Tuesday, June 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias) A giant Turkish flag lighting on the Pentadaktilos mountain in the Turkish occupied area at the north part of the island, in divided capital Nicosia, Cyprus, Tuesday, June 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias) A U.N peacekeeper walks next of two advertisement boards at the abandoned Nicosia airport inside the war-torn UN buffer zone in divided capital Nicosia, Cyprus, Wednesday, June 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias) Graves of soldiers killed in the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus at the Tymvos Macedonitissas military cemetery in divided capital Nicosia, Cyprus, Friday, July 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias) Utensils is seen in a kitchen inside of an abandoned apartment inside the war-torn UN buffer zone in divided capital Nicosia, Cyprus, Tuesday, June 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias) Utensils inside of a drawer, are seen in a kitchen inside of an abandoned apartment inside the war-torn UN buffer zone in divided capital Nicosia, Cyprus, Thursday, June 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias) A casserole hang up on the wall in a kitchen of an abandoned apartment inside the war-torn UN buffer zone in divided capital Nicosia, Cyprus, Tuesday, June 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias) A part section of the abandoned Nicosia airport inside the war-torn UN buffer zone in divided capital Nicosia, Cyprus, Wednesday, June 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias) The terminal building of the abandoned Nicosia airport is seen inside at the war-torn UN buffer zone in divided capital Nicosia, Cyprus, Wednesday, June 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias) Toyota 70' cars are seen at the abandoned Toyota show room inside the war-torn UN buffer zone in divided capital Nicosia, Cyprus, Thursday, June 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias) A destroyed Cyprus airways plane is seen at the war-torn UN buffer zone at the abandoned Nicosia airport in divided capital Nicosia, Cyprus, Wednesday, June 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias) The terminal of the abandoned Nicosia airport is seen inside at the war-torn UN buffer zone in divided capital Nicosia, Cyprus, Wednesday, June 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias) Holes from bullets are seen in a wall inside of an abandoned apartment inside the war-torn UN buffer zone in divided capital Nicosia, Cyprus, Tuesday, June 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias) A destroyed Cyprus airways plane is seen at the war-torn UN buffer zone at the abandoned Nicosia airport in divided capital Nicosia, Cyprus, Wednesday, June 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias) A Toyota Celica 70' car is seen at the abandoned Toyota show room inside the war-torn UN buffer zone in divided capital Nicosia, Cyprus, Thursday, June 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias) Holes from bullets are seen on a wall on top of a destroyed bed with a magazine of an abandoned apartment inside the war-torn UN buffer zone in divided capital Nicosia, Cyprus, Tuesday, June 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias) Graves of soldiers killed in the 1974 Turkish invasion in Cyprus, at the Tymvos Macedonitissas military cemetery in divided capital Nicosia, Cyprus, Friday, July 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)
Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Most of our content comes from established publications and journalists, as well as from our extensive network of tens of thousands of creators who contribute to our platform. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through short posts and comments. It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency: our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. We strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation. Join us in shaping the news narrative together.
Comments / 0