1. Greening the ‘Green Line’ in Cyprus
Victor Konrad, Carleton University
April, 2015
U Vic Seminar

2. Demilitarization of the ‘Demilitarized Zone’?

3. Cyprus, 2015

4. Two countries, one island, one economy?

5. One tourist destination

6. Greece, Turkey, the Euro crisis, and Cyprus in 2015
10 billion Euro bailout for Greek Cyprus
Republic of Cyprus and the Greek ‘homeland’
Turkish Republic of Cyprus and Turkish fundamentalism
Economic reversals
Common problems: asylum seekers
Common goals: water, oil, tourists

7. Greening the ‘Green Line’
One of most disputed borders in Europe normalizing and naturalizing
Buffer zone showing its age and decay
Wildlife refuge
UN diminished presence and visibility
New generation of Cypriots ‘move on’

8. Zone of decay and new growth

9. UN recedes

10. Crossing ban lifted in 2003, crossings increase and expand facilities after 2011
Limnitis/Yesilirmak: in picturesque hills above Kato Pyrgos
Astromeritis/Zodhia: cars only in this mountain pass
Agios Dometios/Metehan: quick highway route around Nicosia
Ledra Palace/Lefkosia: pedestrian crossing in old city
Ledra Street/Lefkosia: another pedestrian crossing in the old city
Pyla/Beyarmudu: most direct route north form international airport at Larnaca
Strovilia: eastern route from south to Famagusta

11. Future of the Buffer Zone?
Economic necessity and economic opportunity in the new Cyprus
A new generation of Cypriots
External forces in the eastern Mediterranean
Greece, Turkey and the EU