The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is continuing its representations to senior UNFICYP officers, requesting their intervention so that four fishermen arrested by the so-called authorities of the Turkish occupied areas are released and the boat returned to its legitimate owner.
In a written statement, Government Spokesman Stephanos Stephanou says that the authorities of the Republic of Cyprus were informed on September 27 by the owner of the small fishing boat “St Raphael” Socrates Phanis that, while he was on the boat fishing with Andreas Stylianou and two Egyptian nationals, off Apostolos Andreas peninsula, “they were approached by two Turkish military vessels, which insisted that they follow them to land.”
Stephanou says the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was informed of the incident by the Fishing Department, which immediately contacted Police Headquarters and the army General Staff after speaking with Phanis on Radio Cyprus.
He adds that the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) was contacted and requested to intervene so that the harassment of the four fishermen ceased.
“Despite these actions, the Turkish occupation forces boarded Mr. Stylianou`s boat, without his permission, and arrested the two Cypriot citizens and the two Egyptian citizens, led them to a detention place in occupied Famagusta and led the boat to the occupied port of Famagusta. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs was notified about the arrest and confiscation of the boat late in the evening of September 27 by UNFICYP,” Stephanou notes.
He says that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs made immediate representations to senior UNFICYP officers, requesting their intervention so that the four fishermen are released and the boat returned to its legitimate owner, and that it visits them and makes sure they are cared for.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs continued its representations to UNFICYP today, and was informed that the occupation authorities led the four detainees before a so-called court, which decided that they be detained until Monday, October 1, when they will once again appear before the so-called court,” he adds.
Stephanou notes that “the authorities of the Republic are in close contact with UNFICYP and are making every effort to secure the care of the four detainees and their soonest possible return to their families in the free areas.”
Turkey, whose troops occupy Cyprus’ northern part since they invaded in 1974, does not recognise the Republic of Cyprus. The self-styled regime it established in occupied Cyprus acts against international law and order and has been described by the European Court of Human Rights as a subordinate regime to Turkey.