The barbed Wire Nickname “Nouris Wire”
The barbed wire installed along Cyprus’ buffer zone near the villages of Akaki, Peristerona, and Astromeritis is scheduled for removal by the end of January 2025. This decision follows criticisms regarding its effectiveness and the challenges it posed to local residents.
Initially erected in the spring of 2022 under then-Interior Minister Nicos Nouris, the barbed wire aimed to curb illegal immigration by deterring crossings from the Turkish-controlled north into the Republic of Cyprus. However, the barrier faced opposition from the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), which labelled it an unauthorized construction that impeded their operations and called for its removal.
Concerns of the Local Communities
Local communities also expressed concerns. Residents reported difficulties accessing farmland within the buffer zone, decreased property values, and restrictions on new constructions. Protests ensued, with approximately 200 individuals from affected villages blocking roads to voice their objections.
In response to these issues, the government evaluated the barrier’s effectiveness and, by October 2024, acknowledged that it failed to achieve its intended
purpose. Justice Minister Marios Hartsiotis announced plans to increase police patrols along the Green Line and install CCTV cameras to monitor the area after the barbed wire’s removal.
Plans to be Removed – Buffer Zone Stays
Deputy Minister for Migration Nicholas Ioannides confirmed that technical teams have been formed to dismantle the barbed wire, with work set to commence on
January 9, 2025. The removed materials are expected to be repurposed for National Guard use or other state needs.
It’s important to note that the removal of the barbed wire does not signify the end of the buffer zone itself. The buffer zone, also known as the “Green Line,” remains a demilitarized area patrolled by UNFICYP, separating the Republic of Cyprus from the Turkish-controlled north since the island’s division in 1974. The zone varies in width and includes both inhabited and abandoned areas.
The barbed wire was a unilateral measure by the Republic of Cyprus to address specific migration concerns and was not an integral part of the buffer zone’s official infrastructure. Its removal addresses local grievances and UN objections but does not alter the status or existence of the buffer zone itself. The area will continue to be monitored through increased patrols and surveillance technology to manage security and migration effectively.
In summary, while the dismantling of the barbed wire addresses specific issues related to its installation, it does not mark the end of the buffer zone in Cyprus. The Green Line will persist as a significant feature of the island’s landscape, maintaining its role in the ongoing efforts to manage the complex dynamics between the divided communities.
