Tensions ease in Deneia as Turkish troops, farmers withdraw amid UN monitoring

Turkish soldiers and farmers who had gathered in the buffer zone near Deneia early Wednesday have withdrawn after blocking Greek Cypriot farmers from accessing their fields, according to local authorities.

Deneia community leader Charalambos Alexandrou told the Cyprus News Agency (CNA) that Turkish forces had left the area, though United Nations peacekeepers remain on site to provide updates. "We advised our farmers to avoid the fields due to the tense situation. We're awaiting clarification from the UN and are now on standby," Alexandrou said.

The incident began around 7 a.m. when Turkish troops, arriving in four to five vehicles, and Turkish Cypriot farmers entered the buffer zone as Greek Cypriot farmers arrived to cultivate their fields—a routine they have followed for 15 years.

Cypriot police and military personnel responded, and the Foreign Ministry was informed.

The UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) spokesperson Alim Siddique confirmed to CNA that UNFICYP is closely monitoring developments in Deneia, noting the rise in tensions. "UNFICYP reminds farmers of the need to adhere to UN regulations governing all activities in the neutral zone," Siddique said, adding that farming near the northern ceasefire line is strictly prohibited without proper UN authorization.

Siddique stressed that UNFICYP is intensifying mediation efforts between both sides to maintain order and prevent any escalation. "Both sides are responsible for respecting the status quo within the buffer zone," he said, noting UNFICYP's readiness to de-escalate tensions in the area.

Cyprus’s Justice and Public Order Minister, Marios Kartsios, stated that the incident will be investigated, expressing confidence that the Foreign Ministry will take necessary diplomatic actions.

After a separate meeting addressing food delivery driver assaults, Kartsios commented on the morning’s incident in Deneia, stating that he had not yet received detailed information but had been briefed on some form of tension in the area.

"The circumstances surrounding the incident will be thoroughly examined," Kartsios said, adding that both the National Guard and Foreign Ministry, along with other agencies, are involved in addressing the issue.