Our View: Government posturing repeated over ‘violations’ of buffer zone

Calm appears to have returned to the buffer zone in the Pyla area, Unficyp having taken control of the situation. Much was made by the Cyprus government of the incursion of Turkish Cypriot security personnel into the buffer zone, as if this were something unusual rather than commonplace.

Violations of the buffer zone by the Turkish side, real and imaginary, have been taking place for more than 50 years, prompting the usual rhetoric about provocation, escalation, new fait accompli and so on. We have all heard and read this story so many times that nobody, apart from journalists and government spokesmen, pays any attention to or takes it very seriously. Why would they as violations lead nowhere and the status quo is always restored?

The government had to engage in some posturing, with government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis declaring that “this is an action aimed at challenging the status of the buffer zone as well as creating new faits accompli for the occupation.” Director of the president’s press office Victoras Papadopoulos saw what happened as “serious violations by the occupation regime” and expressed “deep concern and disappointment” over the “escalation” which came “at a critical geopolitical juncture” and “undermines” efforts to build confidence.

The Turkish Cypriot side also engaged in posturing with their ‘foreign ministry’ describing Unficyp’s version of what happened as “unacceptable” and claiming that the peacekeeping force “has once again clearly demonstrated that it has deviated from the principle of impartiality.” Its “unfounded accusations” that Turkish Cypriot security personnel had entered the buffer zone “do not help restore its tarnished reputation among Turkish Cypriots,” it said.

There were also reports that 15 Turkish tanks had been moved to the area close to the Pyla buffer zone although none of the cameramen who had assembled in the area were able to film them. It was not the smartest way to promote the government’s message to foreign tourists that calm and stability prevails in Cyprus, but that is another matter.

While obsessing about scoring political points that are worth nothing, the government, urged on by the media, ignore the real dangers that would arise if Unficyp eventually withdrew from Cyprus. Who would ensure there were no violations of the buffer zone if there were no UN peacekeepers to safeguard the status quo? Who would the government report the occupation troops to if they decided to move into the buffer zone?

This is what should be causing the government and the media deep concern, even though they do not have to think about it for as long as Unficyp is here. But will it still be here in five years considering there is no interest by the two sides to reach some form of arrangement? We must eventually realise that Unficyp will not be here forever maintaining the status quo.