STRASBOURG, France: President Dimitris Christofias of Cyprus urged the U.N. and Turkish Cypriot leaders on Tuesday to support his call to abolish annual military exercises and to demilitarize Cyprus’ divided capital city.
Christofias said the moves would “improve the climate” and increase the chances of success in reunification talks with his Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat.
The island of Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded in response to a coup aimed at uniting the island with Greece. Turkey keeps 35,000 troops in the breakaway Turkish Cypriot north, and a small number of Greek troops are stationed in the south. A U.N.-patrolled buffer zone separates the two communities.
Cypriot president seeks end to military exercises – International Herald Tribune.