Operation TOSCA  

(http://www.army.mod.uk)

Four 299 Parachute Squadron soldiers have recently returned to the UK after serving six months in Cyprus on United Nations peacekeeping duties. Operation Tosca is the name of the UK's contribution to the peacekeeping mission in Cyprus and this tour over the winter of 2008/2009 is the first time that a Territorial Army unit has been deployed to do the job. Lieutenant John Merrit, Sergeant Darren Morrish, Corporal Damien Spence, and Sapper Alistair Dabbs served alongside 230 other TA soldiers from 28 different units across the country as part of 32 Signal Regiment Group.

"Operation TOSCA" 2008, graffiti στη Λευκωσία.

The majority of the British troops were based in a UN base in the centre of the Cypriot capital Nicosia and their task was to patrol the Buffer Zone, known as the 'Green Line', keeping a watchful eye over the opposing Greek and Turkish Forces. Additionally, about 50 soldiers were part of the rapidly deployable Mobile Force Reserve (MFR) which was based at the UN Headquarters in the United Nations Protected Area (UNPA). Most of the troops in this unit were British but there were also Argentinean, Hungarian and Slovakian soldiers working alongside each other.

"H Ώρα αποφάσεων" 2008, φωτογραφία 20Χ40cm

The MFR is responsible for security within the UNPA, which used to be the Nicosia International Airport, but has been disused since the Turkish invasion in 1974. They are also responsible for acting as a Quick Reaction Force and can deploy anywhere along the 180-mile (290-kilometre) long Buffer Zone. They are trained in riot control and public order duties in case they have to react to any civil unrest. There was plenty of opportunity for sports and adventure training during the six months and several soldiers flew wives and girlfriends to Cyprus instead of returning to the UK for leave periods.

"καρφιά" 2008, printscreen, 30X40cm