Green Line (Cyprus)
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The term Green Line is often used to refer to the line of demarcation that divides the Cypriot capital of Nicosia into the southern Greek Cypriot region, the controlled area by Republic of Cyprus and the northern Turkish Cypriot region, which is occupied by the de facto Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. It was first established in 1964 when Turkish Cypriots decided they needed their own enclaves for protection. It was strengthened following the July 1974 invasion by Turkey which, under the name 'Peace Operation' intervened in response to the Greek Cypriot coup. The Green Line became a de facto, though unrecognised border in 1983 with the self-proclamation of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, and recognized only by Turkey. This line is also referred to as the 'Attila Line' on some maps (named after the Turkish code-name for the 1974 Military Intervention: Operation Atilla).