Nicosia has lodged a protest with United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres concerning continuing violations of the airspace and territorial waters of the Republic of Cyprus by Turkey.
The protest also charges that Turkey continually breaks international air traffic regulations, and appeals for the immediate cessation of the violations, state-run news service CNA reported on Tuesday.
In a letter to Guterres dated November 29, Cyprus’ Permanent Representative to the United Nations Kornelios Korneliou refers to repeated violations by Turkey in its “Exclusive Economic Zone” during the month of October, 2018.
The letter of the Cypriot permanent representative claims that ”Turkey continues to systematically harass civilian and military aircraft within the Nicosia flight information region (FIR) via radio calls.”
”The said actions of Turkey, which has continued to occupy the northern part of the Republic of Cyprus since 1974, are clearly aimed at undermining Cyprus’ sovereignty (and) consolidating the ongoing de facto division” of the island, according to Korneliou’s letter of protest.
He goes on to charge that Turkey is attempting to “upgrade the secessionist entity’s status by claiming a purported airspace over the occupied territory of the Republic.”
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied the northern third of the island. Repeated rounds of U.N.-led peace talks have so far failed to yield any concrete results.
The latest round of negotiations, which took place in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana, ended inconclusively, with both sides stating they were ready for a new round of negotiations.
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