Greek Cypriots Propose Military Pullback From Cyprus Ceasefire Line

NICOSIA, July 16 (AFP) - The Greek Cypriot government on Friday proposed a military pullback from the UN-patrolled ceasefire line as a goodwill gesture toward the Turkish Cypriots on their divided island.
The proposal is part of a series of confidence-building measures, government spokesman Kypros Chrysostomides said, in the wake of a UN reunification plan which was rejected by the Greek Cypriots in an April referendum.
"This is an initiative in confidence-building measures to help create a climate of security between the two communities" to clear the way for a new peace initiative, Chrysostomides told reporters.
The Greek Cypriot National Guard would disengage from the "Green Line" in Nicosia where troops from both sides are at their closest point, plus it would pull back in the Dherynia and Strovilia areas to the southeast of the capital.
In an effort to reduce tensions on what has been described as the world's most densely-militarised country, the National Guard would pull back troops, equipment and positions held for the past 30 years.
Under the proposal, curbs are to be imposed on war games, helping to establish a military-free area of two kilometres (1.2 miles) on either side of the 180-kilometre (110-mile) ceasefire line.
But the Greek Cypriot government made it clear that the military disengagement was contingent on Turkey's compliance and would not be carried out on a unilateral basis.
"The measures we have presented are conditional on the bases of reciprocity from the Turkish side," said presidential aide Tassos Tzonis.
Nicosia is also calling for the abandoned coastal resort of Varosha to be returned to the Greek Cypriots, who in exchange would agree to joint control of the nearby Famagusta port to facilitate Turkish Cypriot trade.
But on a uniliteral basis, the Greek Cypriots have decided to press ahead with demining the thousands of National Guard landmines inside the UN-manned buffer zone.
The government also wants to open eight more checkpoints to encourage greater trade and travel. Turkish Cypriot authorities eased travel restrictions in April 2003, but the number of crossing points is limited.
The proposals have been submitted to the United Nations and the European Commission.
Cyprus joined the European Union on May 1 after Greek Cypriots overwhelmingly rejected a UN peace deal at a referendum ensuring a divided island entered the bloc, effectively shutting out the Turkish Cypriot north.
Greek Cypriots have come under heavy international pressure for snubbing the UN blueprint which was endorsed by the Turkish Cypriots.
Moreover, they are on a collision course with the European Union over the bloc's proposal to conduct direct trade with the north that it argues is illegal.
The Greek Cypriot government is hoping its latest measures will dissuade Brussels from opening direct trade and travel links with the north.
Cyprus has been divided since a 1974 Greek-engineered coup in Nicosia was followed by the Turkish invasion and occupation of the island's northern third where Ankara still deploys more than 30,000 troops.