Key developments since May 2004: In August 2005, Turkish forces
agreed on clearance of Turkish minefields laid in the buffer zone, and clearance
activities started on 12 August. Clearance of minefields laid by Republic of
Cyprus National Guard in the buffer zone started in November 2004; 294,118
square meters of mined area and 2,063 mines were cleared November 2004-30 June
2005. The European Commission contributed €2.5 million (some US$3.1
million) for clearance of the buffer zone. The UN Mine Action Cell was
established in April 2004 to manage and monitor the clearance project. Cyprus
reported destruction of 335 antipersonnel mines in mined areas outside the
buffer zone in 2004. It destroyed 4,368 stockpiled antipersonnel mines between
July 2003 and December 2004, including 441 in 2004.
Mine Ban Policy
The Republic of Cyprus became a State Party to the Mine Ban Treaty on 1 July
2003, having signed it on 4 December 1997 and ratified it on 17 January 2003.
Cyprus states that domestic implementation of the treaty is achieved through the
legislation adopted for ratification.[1]Implementation of the treaty obligations has been delegated to the
National Committee for the Implementation of the Ottawa Convention and to the
Cyprus Mine Action Center. The National Committee prepared a mine action plan
that included both stockpile destruction and mine clearance, which was finalized
by August 2005.[2 ]
Cyprus submitted an annual Article 7 transparency report on 24 April 2005,
reporting on calendar year 2004. It used voluntary Form J to note mine action
contributions, and to detail National Guard minefields in the buffer zone. An
initial Article 7 report was submitted in early 2004, covering 1 July-31
December 2003.[3]
Ambassador Erato Kozakou-Markoullis, Chair of the National Committee for the
Implementation of the Ottawa Convention, led the country’s delegation to
the First Review Conference of the Mine Ban Treaty in Nairobi in
November–December 2004. In her statement in the high level segment,
Ambassador Kozakou-Markoullis announced that Cyprus has decided “to
proceed unilaterally with the demining process by agreeing to clear the
minefields laid by the National Guard” in the buffer zone dividing the
island.[4 ]
Cyprus attended the Standing Committee meetings in Geneva in June 2005,
where it made a presentation to the Standing Committee on Mine Clearance, Mine
Risk Education and Mine Action Technologies. The presentation identified as one
difficulty for treaty implementation, “Areas in the northern part of
Cyprus occupied by Turkish armed
forces.”[5 ]This refers to an
issue of jurisdiction or control, with reference to a State Party’s
obligations under Article 5.1 of the Mine Ban Treaty. The Republic of Cyprus
acknowledges responsibility under Article 5 of the ban treaty to clear mines
which were laid by its National Guard in the buffer zone and in the territory of
the Republic south of the buffer zone. But it believes that Turkey is
responsible for clearing mines in territory north of the buffer zone, which has
not been within the Republic’s jurisdiction or control since the mines
were laid by Turkish forces in 1974.[6 ]
Cyprus has not yet made known its views on matters of interpretation and
implementation related to Articles 1, 2 and 3, and in particular issues related
to joint military operations with non-States Parties, foreign stockpiling and
transit of antipersonnel mines, antivehicle mines with sensitive fuzes or
antihandling devices, and the permissible number of mines retained for
training.
Cyprus ratified the Convention on Conventional Weapons (CCW) Amended
Protocol II on 22 July 2003. It attended the sixth annual conference of States
Parties in Geneva in November 2004 and submitted a national annual report as
required by Article 13.
Stockpiling and Destruction
Cyprus destroyed 4,368 mines between July 2003 and December 2004, from an
original stockpile of 48,475 antipersonnel mines (as declared in its initial
Article 7 transparency report).[7 ]In
December 2003, 3,927 mines were
destroyed,[8 ]indicating that during
2004 only a further 441 antipersonnel mines were destroyed. At the end of 2004,
the stockpile was reported as totaling 44,107 antipersonnel mines, comprising:
392 M2A1; 179 M2A3; 2,918 M16; 15,888 M16A1; 19,802 M16A2; 278 M16E3; 4,450
VS-50; 200 GLD-112.[9 ]
Stockpiled mines are destroyed by open detonation at the Xintous Military
Testing Range at Vizakia village, and the Kalo Chorio Military Testing Range in
Larnaca district. Approximately 15-20 mines are detonated at a time and at
intervals during the day. National safety standards are based on National Guard
regulations and are similar to international standards for humanitarian
demining.[10]
At the intersessional Standing Committee meetings in June 2005, a
representative of the Cyprus Mine Action Center confirmed that Cyprus would meet
its treaty deadline of 1 July 2007 for completing destruction of all
antipersonnel mines in stockpiles, and presented a timetable for the destruction
program. This plan included: 11,000 mines to be destroyed in 2005; 18,000 mines
in 2006; 15,548 mines in 2007. It was further reported that this would complete
the destruction of 44,548 antipersonnel mines in
total.[11]
Shortly before entry into force of the ban treaty for Cyprus, it reported to
an intersessional Standing Committee meeting in May 2003 that the stockpile of
antipersonnel mines totaled 48,615.[12 ]In its initial Article 7 report, Cyprus declared a total of 48,475
antipersonnel mines, before stockpile destruction started in December 2003. Its
Article 7 report submitted in April 2005 indicated a remaining stockpile, after
December 2004, of 44,107 mines.[13 ]
The stockpile consists of eight types or variants from China, Singapore,
Taiwan and the US.[14]
Mines Retained for Research and Training
Cyprus has retained 1,000 antipersonnel mines for training and development
purposes under Article 3 of the treaty. They are stored at the National Guard
warehouse at Palodia Village near Limassol, and are used by the Cyprus Mine
Action Center. The total retained is made up of 100 of each of the following
types: M2A1; M2A3; M16; M16A1; M16A2; M16E3; plus 200 each of VS50 and
GLD-112.[15 ]Cyprus has not yet
reported in any detail on the intended purposes and actual uses of its retained
mines―a step agreed to by States Parties in the Nairobi Action Plan that
emerged from the First Review Conference.
Landmine Problem
A heavily mined buffer zone has divided Cyprus, geographically and
politically, since 1974 when Turkish forces took over control of the north of
the island. Minefields were laid inside and outside the buffer zone both by the
Greek Cypriot National Guard and Turkish forces. The UN Peacekeeping Force in
Cyprus (UNFICYP), which has military responsibility for all activities inside
the buffer zone, counted 101 minefields and suspected mined areas on the island.
Of these, 48 are located in the buffer zone and 53 are outside, although many
are less than one kilometer from the buffer
zone.[16 ]
The Republic of Cyprus reported that, at the end of 2004, there were
National Guard minefields, containing 693 mines, inside the buffer zone near the
areas of Pyrgos, Mia Millia and Kokinotrimithia. In addition, they reported
mine-suspected areas near south
Lefka.[17 ]
Outside the buffer zone, in territory controlled by the Republic, there are
23 National Guard minefields, reported to contain 4,318 mines. The minefields
are located near the communities of Dali, Lymbia, Pyla, Athienou, Louroutzina,
Geri, Trouloi and Potamia.[18 ]
Cyprus has reported that all National Guard minefields outside the buffer
zone are fenced and marked with warning signs and monitored by
troops.[19 ]An estimated 85 percent
of the minefields in the buffer zone are not fully
fenced.[20]
There are also 26 Turkish forces’ minefields inside the buffer
zone.[21 ]
Mine Action Program
A National Committee responsible for the full implementation of the Mine Ban
Treaty was set up in May 2003, involving the ministries of defense, foreign
affairs, and justice and public order. In November 2004, the committee drafted
a national plan for implementation of the treaty, which was finalized by August
2005. The plan includes “stockpile destruction, the buffer zone,
Government-controlled
areas....”[22]
The Cyprus Mine Action Center (CYMAC) was established in August 2003 by the
National Guard General Staff, under the command of the Engineer Corps.
CYMAC’s responsibility also includes implementation of the obligations
arising from the Mine Ban Treaty and CCW Amended Protocol
II.[23 ]CYMAC has a small capacity
of 15 deminers for clearance of mined areas outside the buffer zone. Manual
demining techniques and machines are used.
Regarding clearance of National Guard minefields inside the buffer zone,
Cyprus consulted with UNFICYP and an assessment mission was carried out by the
UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS) in June 2002. This led to the creation, on 1
April 2004, of the UN Mine Action Cell (UNMAC) to oversee clearance of the
buffer zone. An overall aim of the clearance project is to maximize
confidence-building measures and open additional crossing points between the two
communities. The European Commission (EC) made funding available for this
purpose. The project refers to seven National Guard minefields and one suspect
area.[24 ]
Following a tendering process, ArmorGroup was contracted to carry out
clearance of National Guard minefields in the buffer zone, using manual methods
and dogs. The Mines Advisory Group (MAG) was contracted to conduct quality
management. As of April 2005, ArmorGroup had 43 operational staff in Cyprus,
including 27 deminers, four medical staff and two dog handlers. Three quality
assurance officers were seconded by MAG to UNMAC, and a National Guard CYMAC
observer is also included in monitoring and quality control of mine clearance
operations in the buffer zone. The International Mine Action Standards (IMAS)
were developed into safety guidelines on which contractors based their standard
operating procedures. CYMAC assists by supplying explosives to destroy mines,
and by providing a demolition center and samples of mines that may be
located.[25 ]UNMAC is using the
Information Management System for Mine Action (IMSMA) for operations in the
buffer zone, and makes data available on request. The IMSMA system was updated
in Cyprus in February 2005.
Clearance in the buffer zone began on 16 November 2004 and was due to be
completed by the end of 2005. According to the Ministry of Defense, by the end
of the program “seven National Guard minefields and one suspect area,
situated in five different areas of approximately 254,743 m2 will be cleared,
and all types of mines, including 1,024 anti-personnel will be
destroyed.”[26 ]
A major advance, allowing clearance of all minefields in the buffer zone,
was made in early August 2005, when Turkish forces reached an agreement with
UNFICYP on clearance of the 27 minefields laid by Turkish forces in the buffer
zone. Clearance of these minefields started in a ceremony on 12 August attended
by the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and the EC’s
Representative in Cyprus, Kezban Akansoy, who said that “we are now in a
position to plan and programme for a mine-free buffer zone with the full
co-operation of all concerned, an outcome that can only be of benefit to the
island as a whole.”[27 ]This
agreement, negotiated by UNFICYP, had been long
awaited.[28 ]A few days earlier,
Turkish forces had agreed to clearance of their minefields in the buffer zone
around Nicosia, in order to allow a new crossing point to be opened between the
divided communities.[29 ]
Mine Clearance
Cyprus has stated that “the destruction of all antipersonnel mines
laid in areas under the effective control of the Government of Cyprus, will be
completed [by] ... June 2013.”[30 ]Under Article 5 of the Mine Ban Treaty, Cyprus must destroy all
antipersonnel mines in mined areas under its jurisdiction or control as soon as
possible, but not later than 1 July 2013.
Cyprus reported the destruction of 335 antipersonnel mines in
Republic-controlled mined areas outside the buffer zone in
2004.[31 ]The National Guard
completed clearance of two minefields in the area of Lefka in 2003, and in 2004
started clearing minefields in Pyla, Dali and Lymbia. UNFICYP cleared an
additional minefield near Lefka.[32 ]Since 1983, the National Guard has completed the clearance of 10
minefields near the buffer zone, which have been turned over to civilians. By
June 2005, 505 antipersonnel mines had been removed from six further minefields
and destroyed.[33 ]
Inside the buffer zone, 294,118 square meters of mined area and 2,063 mines
were cleared from November 2004 to 30 June
2005.[34 ]Clearance of National
Guard minefields in the buffer zone has allowed new crossing points to open
between the north and south of the island. The Minister of Defense, Kiriakos
Mavronikolas, declared that demining had been completed for a new crossing point
from Astromeritis in the south to Zodia in the north, which was expected to open
at the end of 2005. Mine clearance was proceeding in the old Nicosia area, with
the next phase being the Derynia area in the east and Pyrgos in the west of the
island. The Minister of Defense added that they “will at the same time
request the opening of crossing points in these
areas.”[35 ]
On 12 August 2005, clearance of 27 Turkish-laid minefields in the buffer
zone started, following agreement between UNFICYP and the Turkish forces.
Mine Risk Education
The UNMAS mission reported that the mine threat in Cyprus poses minimal risk
to the civilian population.[36 ]The
mission saw no need for mine risk education (MRE), but recommended that UNFICYP
monitor this in the event of population movements leading to increased risk.
Warning notices about mines and safety advice are found in community centers and
local newspapers in areas where mine clearance is taking
place.[37 ]National mine risk
education standards based on International Mine Action Standards have not been
developed in Cyprus; there are no plans to develop these.
Funding and Assistance
The National Guard estimated the annual cost for destruction of
antipersonnel mines, both stockpiled and in minefields outside the buffer zone
in areas under its control, as approximately €170,000
($211,000).[38 ]The Republic is
financing this expenditure.[39]
In August 2004, the European Commission made available €2.5 million
($3.1 million), through its Partnership for the Future program, to clear
National Guard minefields in the buffer zone. Prior to this, Canada provided
$250,000, channeled through the International Trust Fund for Demining and Mine
Victims Assistance (ITF), to which Slovenia added $25,000 in 2003. This was
used by UNMAC to purchase mine detection and personnel protection
equipment.[40 ]
Cyprus reports that it donated to the UN Trust Fund for Assistance in Mine
Clearance (amount not
disclosed),[41 ]and $5,000 to the
ICBL for Landmine Monitor.
Landmine Casualties and Survivor Assistance
In 2004 there were two mine-related incidents, in which one person was
injured. On 3 April, a tractor detonated an antivehicle mine on the perimeter of
a partially-fenced minefield in the buffer zone. The farmer was reportedly not
seriously injured.[42 ]On 22 July,
a fire engine ran over four antipersonnel mines in similar circumstances, but no
casualties resulted.[43 ]As of June
2005, no additional mine-related incidents had been reported in Cyprus.
Mine survivors receive free medical assistance and rehabilitation, ex
gratia monetary compensation and a monthly disability
allowance.[44 ]Some schemes are
also in place to facilitate the employment of persons with disabilities. There
are three laws to protect the rights of persons with disabilities: Rights of
Persons with a Mental Handicap (1989); Providing for Persons with Disabilities
(2000); and Law on Special Education
(1999).[45]
[1] Law No. 37 (III) 2002,
“Law ratifying the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling,
Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their
Destruction.”
[2 ]Interview with Lt. Col.
Eleftherios Hadjistefanou, Ministry of Defense, and Eleni Apeyitou, Political
Affairs Division (Multilateral Relations), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nicosia,
20 April 2005; telephone interview with Sotos Liassides, Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, 2 August 2005.
[3]Cyprus’ initial Article 7
report appears on the UN Article 7 website without a date of submission. There
is no date of submission in the text of the report. The commander of the
national mine action center has stated that the report was transmitted to the
Implementation Support Unit in February 2004.
[4 ]Statement by Amb. Erato
Kozakou-Markoullis, Chair of the National Committee for the Implementation of
the Ottawa Convention, Nairobi Summit on a Mine-Free World (First Review
Conference), Nairobi, 3 December 2004.
[5 ]Statement and presentation by
Maj. Panayiotis Aresti, Cyprus Mine Action Center, Standing Committee on Mine
Clearance, Mine Risk Education and Mine Action Technologies, Geneva, 13 June
2005, www.gichd.ch. The presentation drew a
strong reply from Turkey’s representative.
[6 ]Interview with Ministry of
Foreign Affairs officials, Nicosia, 20 April 2005.
[7 ]Stockpiled mines destroyed
between July 2003 and December 2004: 1,168 M16; 552 M16A1; 344 M16A2; 82 M2A1;
2,222 GLD-112. Article 7 Report, Form G, 24 April 2005.
[8 ]Article 7 Report, Form G,
undated (for the period 1 July 2003-31 December 2003).
[9 ]Article 7 Report, Form B, 24
April 2005.
[10]Article 7 Report, Form F, 24
April 2005.
[11]Statement and presentation,
Standing Committee on Mine Clearance, Mine Risk Education and Mine Action
Technologies, Geneva, 13 June 2005.
[12 ]Intervention by Maj.
Theodoros Efthymiou, Director of Cyprus Mine Action Center, Standing Committee
on Mine Clearance, Mine Risk Education and Mine Action Technologies, Geneva, 14
May 2003.
[13 ]Cyprus has not explained the
discrepancies in the different stockpile totals that have appeared in its
reporting.
[14]The mines initially declared
in stockpile were: M2A1 (474), M2A3 (179), M16 (4,086), M16A1 (16,440), M16A2
(20,146), M16E3 (278), VS50 (4,450), GLD112 (2,422).
[15 ]Article 7 Report, Form D, 24
April 2005.
[16 ]Interview with Justin Brady,
UNMAS, and Michael Raine, UNMAC, 19 April 2005.
[17 ]Article 7 Report, Form J, 24
April 2005.
[18 ]Article 7 Report, Forms C
and G, 24 April 2005. In June 2005, Cyprus reported that 4,653 mines remained
in minefields, but this appears to overlook the 335 mines which Form G reports
as being destroyed by the end of 2004. Statement and presentation, Standing
Committee on Mine Clearance, Mine Risk Education and Mine Action Technologies,
Geneva, 13 June 2005.
[19 ]Article 7 Report, Form I, 24
April 2005. See also Landmine Monitor Report 2004, p. 382.
[20]Interview with Justin Brady,
UNMAS, and Michael Raine, UNMAC, 19 April 2005.
[21 ]Interview with Justin Brady,
UNMAS, and Michael Raine, UNMAC, 19 April 2005.
[22]Interview with Lt. Col.
Eleftherios Hadjistefanou, National Guard, and Eleni Apeyitou, Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, 20 April 2005; emails from Ministry of Defense and Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, 26 June and 1 August 2005.
[23 ]Email from Ministry of
Defense and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 26 June 2005.
[24 ]UN, “Country profile:
Cyprus,” www.mineaction.org,
accessed on 13 July 2005.
[25 ]Interview with Justin Brady,
UNMAS, and Michael Raine, UNMAC, 19 April 2005.
[26 ]Statement and presentation,
Standing Committee on Mine Clearance, Mine Risk Education and Mine Action
Technologies, Geneva, 13 June 2005.
[27 ]Menelaos Hadjicostis,
“Clearance of Turkish minefields begin,” Cyprus Weekly, 13
August 2005.
[28 ]Report of the
Secretary-General on the UN operation in Cyprus to the Security Council No. 14,
27 May 2005; interview with Justin Brady, UNMAS, and Michael Raine, UNMAC, 19
April 2005; interview with Lt. Col. Eleftherios Hadjistefanou, National Guard,
and Eleni Apeyitou, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 20 April 2005.
[29 ]“Talat: recognition
out of question but demining OK,” eKathimerini (online Greek
newspaper, English edition), 6 August 2005.
[30 ]Statement and presentation,
Standing Committee on Mine Clearance, Mine Risk Education and Mine Action
Technologies, Geneva, 13 June 2005.
[31 ]Article 7 Report, Form G, 24
April 2005.
[32 ]Email from Alexis Phedonos,
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 2 August 2005.
[33 ]Statement and presentation,
Standing Committee on Mine Clearance, Mine Risk Education and Mine Action
Technologies, Geneva, 13 June 2005.
[34 ]Email from Michael Raine,
UNMAC, 6 July 2005.
[35 ]“Turkish forces show
no ‘good will’ for demining,” BBC (Cyprus), 28 April
2005; email from Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 1 August 2005.
[36 ]UNMAS, “Assessment
Mission Report, Cyprus,” 8 August 2002. See Landmine Monitor Report
2004, p. 383.
[37 ]Interview with Justin Brady,
UNMAS, and Michael Raine, UNMAC, 19 April 2005.
[38 ]Average exchange rate for
2004: €1 = $1.2438, used throughout this report. US Federal Reserve,
“List of Exchange Rates (Annual),” 3 January 2005.
[39]Statement and presentation,
Standing Committee on Mine Clearance, Mine Risk Education and Mine Action
Technologies, Geneva, 13 June 2005.
[40 ]ITF reports donating one
percent (approximately $250,000) of its 2004 expenditure to Cyprus. ITF,
“Annual Report 2004,” pp. 23, 59.
[41 ]Article 7 Report, Form J, 24
April 2005.
[42 ]Email from Michael Raine,
UNDP/UNOPS, 3 September 2004.
[43 ]Email from Michael Raine,
UNDP/UNOPS, 3 September 2004.
[44 ]Article 7 Report, Form J,
undated (for the period 1 July 2003-31 December 2003).
[45]European Observatory on
Health Systems and Policies, www.euro.who.int/observatory/,
accessed 18 July 2005.
About Us
Our Research Products