Nicosia, Cyprus. Green Line, shop abandoned in 1974. Greek Cypriot soldier stands guard at his post, rifle in view
CYPRUS NICOSIA Inside the Green Line This area at the heart of the old walled city was once known as the Knightsbridge of Nicosia for its numerous shops and cafes It is now a heavily fortified military zone The Green Line the heavily militarised frontier that splits Cyprus into a Greek Cypriot south and a Turkish controlled north runs through the centre of Nicosia Nicosia is the world s last divided capital Amid the rusting barbed wire and battle scarred buildings young and often emotionally involved conscripts from opposing Greek Cypriot and Turkish forces eye each other s posts with long fostered hatred They are known to provoke each other trading insults and throwing stones and on occasion opening fire with fatal consequences in a stand off that has lasted 30 years In an area spanning just 1 5 miles across the old walled centre Nicosia s Green Line has 76 military posts 12 UN observation posts and 43 minefields source UNFICYP Note to editor Breakdown of military posts in Nicosia s Green Line is 40 Greek Cypriot National Guard 36 Turkish There are a further 65 minefields outside of this zone source UNFICYP
Size: 5564px × 3707px
Location: Green Line, South Nicosia, Cyrpus, Europe
Photo credit: © Paul Panayiotou / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: 1974, abandoned, army, border, boundary, buffer, capital, checkpoint, city, cypriot, cyprus, derelict, divided, europe, european, greek, green, history, line, military, nicosia, observation, political, politics, post, shop, soldier, south, street, war, zone
