Calm prevails in Pyla, UN, Erhurman say

Calm is prevailing in the buffer zone village of Pyla after reports of “tensions” between the island’s two sides and the United Nations earlier in the day, Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman said on Wednesday.

“According to information we received from our security forces, calm prevails … as of today, and communication and dialogue is continuing. Indeed, this information has been confirmed by a statement from the UN peacekeeping force [Unficyp],” he said.

He added that his office is “currently in full coordination with all the authorities responsible in the field of security”, and that “no one should doubt” that his office “will fulfil its duties regarding the process completely”.

He then referred to erroneous reports published earlier in the day stating that Turkish tanks had entered the buffer zone.

“Despite the efforts observed in statements from the south and from the media, including news and commentary which does not reflect the truth, to escalate tensions, it should be known that we will not be a party to such an effort. Problems will be resolved calmly, resolutely, and through dialogue and diplomacy,” he said.

Fears of heightened tensions had arisen earlier in the day after a line of Turkish tanks was spotted in the area.

However, Unficyp spokesman Aleem Siddique confirmed to the Cyprus Mail that the tanks were at all times located “north of the northern ceasefire line”, and as such not in the buffer zone.

Given Pyla and nearby Pergamos’ proximity to the United Kingdom’s Dhekelia base also saw British vehicles deploy to the area, though British bases spokeswoman Korina Orphanides told the Cyprus Mail that vehicles had been deployed only as a precaution and “took no action”, thus indicating that the tanks were also located outside the base.

Earlier, Siddique had confirmed that there are “no military assets inside the buffer zone”, and that reports that a Turkish flag had been planted in the buffer zone also did not correspond to reality. The flag, he said, is located in the north.

Aleem said Unficyp remains “vigilant and are working closely to maintain calm”.

Meanwhile website Kibris Postasi quoted military sources as having said that the tanks had been deployed because “the Greek Cypriot authorities attempted to facilitate illegal crossings”, possibly of veterinarians, into the buffer zone near Pyla, “citing an outbreak of foot and mouth disease on the Greek Cypriot side”.

As such, the sources said, measures were taken to bolster the Turkish Cypriot security presence in the area.

Cattle breeders’ association chief Demetris Epaminondas, meanwhile, said that farmers in the area had advised officials from the veterinary services department not to enter the area for an ongoing vaccination programme.

“They told us not to come because the occupation forces would create problems,” he said, before adding that Unficyp had warned that “they could not guarantee the safety of those involved” if they chose to enter the area.