Cyprus denounces to Guterres the Turkish violations in air and sea

809212 ANTONIO GOUTERES, UN Secretary General, Cyprus, UN

In a letter to the UN Secretary-General on June 10, the UN's permanent representative to the United Nations, Poly Ioannou, denounced the Turkish violations in the airspace of Cyprus and the Nicosia FIR, as well as the illegal use of closed ports. airports occupied by Turkey., in March and April.

The letter - which includes four documents with detailed record of violations - was released on Wednesday as an official document of the UN General Assembly and Security Council.

"This persistent policy of violation of international law and violation of international rules and regulations is a constant threat to international peace and security, adversely affects regional stability, jeopardizes the safety of international civil aviation, creates difficulties in air traffic in Cyprus and the creation of an environment for the conduct of the Cypriot peace process ", states the letter of Mrs. Ioannou.

It is underlined that Turkey continues to systematically harass civilian and military aircraft within the Nicosia flight information area via radio calls, while at the same time the regime established by the occupying force in the area of ​​Cyprus, which it illegally occupies, issued two statements to the airmen. on exercises conducted by the Turkish Air Force.

In addition, Turkish commercial aircraft systematically use Tympou Airport, which continues to operate illegally after the Cypriot government closed all ports of entry in areas where it does not exercise effective control.

"The aforementioned actions of Turkey, which has continued to occupy the northern part of the Republic of Cyprus since 1974," the Cypriot envoy wrote in her letter, clearly aimed at undermining Cyprus' s sovereignty, consolidating its continuing de facto segregation and separatist entity, claiming an alleged airspace over the occupied territory of the Republic. In this regard, I would like to emphasize that there is only one Cypriot state, which is the Republic of Cyprus, as defined in various Security Council resolutions (in particular Resolutions 541 (1983) and 550 (1984)), in which the Council stated that the alleged secession of part of Cyprus is legally invalid ".

Strongly protesting on behalf of the government for the continuing violations of the national airspace and territorial waters of Cyprus by Turkey, as well as for the violations of the international air traffic regulations, Ms. Ioannou calls for their immediate cessation. At the same time, it reiterates its call on all States to respect the decisions of the Security Council and to adhere to the principles of sovereignty and non-interference enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations.

Concluding, the Cypriot Commissioner urges Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot community "to contribute to a substantial repetition of the peace process, instead of focusing on undermining the sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus and promoting the division of Cyprus through the creation of territorial data and of the status quo, including seeking the political upgrading of the separatist entity ”.