UN peacekeepers intervened to remove a Turkish farmer from the buffer zone in Avlona on Sunday morning after he attempted to cultivate land in a restricted area.
The farmer entered the “dead zone” at approximately 11:00 am using a tractor and a mower to work a field he does not own and for which he holds no UN permit, Avlona community leader Menelaos Savva told philenews.
The area is designated as “frozen” by the United Nations, meaning all agricultural activity is strictly prohibited.
UN personnel arrived at the scene and negotiated with the farmer for an hour before successfully moving him out of the area.
Savva said such provocations are common, noting that a group of four or five Turkish farmers frequently attempt to farm in the specific location. He added that he expects the farmers will likely return to the area to try again.