Capital's Royal Scots on peacekeeping mission in Cyprus
It was 1974 when the Cyprus National Guard staged a coup that led to Turkish military intervention and escalated the civil war between the Greek and Turkish communities on the island.
A heavily restricted buffer zone, controlled by the United Nations, was established between the north and south. Almost six months ago a battalion from the Capital’s own Royal Scots Dragoon Guards was deployed to take over from the 7 Regiment Royal Logistics Corps in Nicosia, Cyprus.
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Hide AdThe demilitarised zone is restricted to the general public and no Greek or Turkish Cypriots are allowed inside, leaving behind the eerie scenes of a long-abandoned airport, empty buildings and streets criss-crossed with barbed wire.
Media officer, Edward Mitchell told the Evening News from Nicosia: “Our job is patrolling the buffer zone, which in our sector is around 30km long.
“We have to provide mediation while also reassuring civilians. We speak on a daily basis with the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots.
“It has been very interesting this past six months, being in a different environment. For some this is their first deployment abroad since Afghanistan. But our regiment is like a family and we’ve all helped each other through it.”
More than 200 Royal Scots Dragoon Guards troops will be brought home from March 26.