Newsroom
The community leader of Avlona, Menelaos Savva, has reported a new incident involving unauthorized activity inside the buffer zone near the village, informing both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the United Nations.
According to Savva, he personally encountered Turkish farmers inside the buffer zone at approximately 10:30 a.m. on Thursday while visiting land he legally cultivates with the required permits. He said such incidents are no longer isolated, claiming they have been occurring repeatedly for an extended period.
What is particularly concerning, he noted, is a shift in the nature of the farming activity. While seasonal crops were previously cultivated, the farmers are now planting citrus trees, a permanent form of cultivation that suggests long-term use of the land.
Savva explained that existing arrangements with the United Nations allow agricultural activity in the buffer zone only by lawful landowners who hold official permission. He stressed that the farmers involved do not meet these criteria, as the land in question belongs to a Greek Cypriot resident of Avlona, whom he knows personally.
Despite submitting multiple complaints directly to the United Nations and the Republic of Cyprus’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Savva said no effective action has been taken so far.
Following his latest report, UN peacekeepers carried out checks at two locations within the buffer zone, including near the affected area and along the Avlona–Akaki road. However, Savva pointed out that the checkpoint primarily affects Greek Cypriots, as they are the only ones using that route.
He added that he himself was stopped by UN personnel, asked to present identification and a buffer zone entry permit, and was subsequently escorted out of the area, even though his documents were in order.
As of now, Savva said there has been no official response or visible measures taken regarding the most recent incident.
