Cyprus reported to the United Nations Turkey for violations of its national airspace and infringing its FIR.
In a letter dated 17 March 2021 the Permanent Representative of Cyprus to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General, Andreas Hadjichrysanthou has sent two separate documents recording the violations of the national airspace of Cyprus and the infringements of international air traffic regulations in the flight information region of Cyprus and the illegal use of closed ports and airports in Cyprus by Turkey, during the month of January 2021.
In the letter, Hadjichrysanthou notes “it is regrettable that international civil aviation continues to be faced with a situation where one of the States members of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), namely Turkey, does not observe fundamental provisions of the Convention on International Civil Aviation and its annexes, thus causing potential risks for international air navigation”.
In fact, he added, “Turkey continues to systematically harass civilian and military aircraft within the Nicosia flight information region with radio calls, while the secessionist regime that it has installed in the area of Cyprus under Turkey’s illegal military occupation purports to issue notices to airmen relating to exercises conducted by the Turkish Air Force”.
In addition, Turkish commercial aircraft systematically use the Tympou airport, which continues to operate illegally following the closure by the Cyprus Government of all ports of entry in the areas where it has not exercised effective control since the 1974 Turkish invasion.
The Cypriot diplomat noted that Turkey’s actions are clearly aimed at undermining the sovereignty of Cyprus, consolidating the ongoing de facto division of the island, and attempting to upgrade the status of the secessionist regime through the alleged existence of a separate air space over the occupied territory of the Republic.
He pointed out that, as stipulated, inter alia, in various Security Council resolutions, notably resolutions 541 (1983) and 550 (1984), “there is only one Cypriot State, which is the Republic of Cyprus. Accordingly, the Republic of Cyprus is the sole internationally recognized State responsible for the provision of air traffic services within the Nicosia flight information region in its entirety, and for publishing aeronautical information concerning that flight information region”.
Hadjichrysanthou further underlined the ICAO policy on matters related to Cyprus is absolutely consistent with that of the United Nations. Consequently, ICAO recognizes only the Republic of Cyprus and its Government as the sole representative of the whole island. And the airports located in the occupied area of Cyprus “are illegal and consequently their activity is null, void and operationally not taken into account by international air navigation and the civil aviation community”.
Turkey and its subordinate local administration, the Cypriot diplomat added, “should try to contribute constructively to a meaningful resumption of the peace process. In that regard, it is regrettable that Turkey and the new Turkish Cypriot leader publicly reject the longstanding United Nations parameters for the settlement of the Cyprus problem and actively promote a so-called “two-state solution”, in blatant disregard of relevant Security Council resolutions”.
It is equally worrisome that the Turkish side continues unabated with the creation of new faits accomplis on the ground, in particular in Varosha, in total disregard of the recent calls of the Security Council to avoid actions in that area that are not in accordance with Council resolutions and to reverse the decision to open the city’s coastline.
Furthermore, Hadjichrysanthou said the Turkish side should be reminded that “the United Nations continue to hold the Government of Turkey responsible for the situation in Varosha”, and that the Council, in its resolution 550 (1984), after stating that it is “gravely concerned about the further secessionist acts in the occupied part of the Republic of Cyprus”, calls for the transfer of Varosha to the administration of the United Nations”.
Furthermore, with its resolution 789 (1992), the Council clarified that “with a view to the implementation of resolution 550 (1984), the area at present under the control of the United Nations Peace-keeping Force in Cyprus be extended to include Varosha”. It is therefore beyond doubt, the diplomat remarked, “that any line of action by Turkey in Varosha other than that stipulated by the aforementioned resolutions would have been a material breach by Turkey of its obligations under the said resolutions”.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017, at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana, ended inconclusively. The informal conference on Cyprus will take place 27-29 of April in Geneva.