In this photo released by the United Nations in Cyprus (UNFICYP) on Tuesday Oct. 13, 2015, the British actor Daniel Craig, centre, speaks with UN specialist mine detecting team members at the minefields in UN controlled buffer zone in the divided island of Cyprus. Craig was on Cyprus Tuesday to inspect the United Nations' work to clear minefields, a vestige of conflict that divided this east Mediterranean island along ethnic lines. The U.N. said Craig inspected a live minefield now being cleared by a Cambodian demining team. (UNFICYP via AP )
Republished October 13, 2015 - 9:08 AM
Original Publication Date October 13, 2015 - 6:25 AM
NICOSIA, Cyprus - Daniel Craig's globetrotting has brought him to Cyprus — but not to film any scenes as super spy James Bond.
The British actor was on the eastern Mediterranean island Tuesday to inspect the United Nations' work in clearing minefields, a vestige of the conflict that divided this island along ethnic lines more than four decades ago.
The U.N. has removed more than 27,000 landmines from the island's buffer zone over the last decade but it's estimated that thousands more remain.
The U.N. said Craig inspected a live minefield being cleared by a 20-strong Cambodian demining team from the U.N.'s peacekeeping mission in Lebanon.
Cambodia is still plagued by millions of undetected mines planted over three decades of strife that still injure and kill.
"For these peacekeepers to take their expertise, gleaned over the last forty years in Cambodia, and make it available to the people of Cyprus, half-way around the world, is truly inspiring," Craig said, according to the U.N.
He also toured the U.N.-controlled buffer zone that separates an internationally recognized Greek Cypriot south from a breakaway Turkish Cypriot north. Cyprus was split in 1974 when Turkey invaded after a coup by supporters of union with Greece.
The actor's two-day Cyprus trip is his first since being appointed U.N. Global Advocate for the Elimination of Mines and Explosive Hazards.
"I've much hope that I will be the first and last global advocate to see land mines on this beautiful island," said Craig.
Talks aimed at reunifying Cyprus as a federation are expected to ramp up next month as the two sides tackle the issues that still separate them.
News from © The Associated Press, 2015