Nicosia protests violations of airspace and territorial waters by Turkey

Cyprus has protested the continuing infringements of international air traffic regulations and the violations of its airspace and territorial waters by Turkey and urged for it to stop.

"The Republic of Cyprus reiterates, in this respect, its call for adherence to the principle of sovereignty and non-interference enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations," Permanent Representative to the UN, Kornelios Korneliou said in a letter sent to the UN Secretary General.

He submitted two documents detailing the infringements of international air traffic regulations and violations of the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus by Turkey and the illegal use of closed ports by Turkish warships during February.

Korneliou said the occupation regime illegally issued three notices to airmen relating to exercises conducted by the Turkish Air Force in February 2018.

"Turkish commercial aircraft systematically use the illegal airport of Tymbou...Turkey continues to systematically harass civilian and military aircraft within the Nicosia flight information region (FIR) via radio calls...Nicosia FIR infringements and violations of national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus continue unabated," the letter said.

"Turkey’s policy of persistently breaching international law and defying international rules and regulations puts the safety of international civil aviation at risk, has a negative impact on the stability of the region and causes difficulties for air traffic over Cyprus."

Cyprus argues that such actions undermine the sovereignty of the Republic and bolsters the "continuing de facto division and upgrading the secessionist entity’s status by claiming a purported airspace over the occupied territory of the Republic".

"There is only one legal authority in Cyprus, the Republic of Cyprus, as stipulated in various Security Council resolutions... in which the Council declared the establishment of the so-called TRNC as null and void."

Korneliou urged Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots to heed the calls of the international community and contribute to a meaningful resumption of the peace process, instead of focusing on undermining the sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus.