THE GREEN LINE OF CYPRUS

The nature of the line that divides Cyprus, as well as the time that h as lapsed since it was drawn, make that line resemble more and more a permanent border. The establishment of the line results from two facto rs. The first is local-the antagonism between the Greek and Turkish co mmunities of the island-the other rests in the geopolitical context of the region. The Turkish Cypriots see the line as a regular internatio nal border, while, to the Greek community, it signifies a loss of sove reignty. The line focuses the problems of a state that seeks to emerge on the island for two communities with conflicting identities.