March 28, 2024

Letter dated 21 March 2003 from the Permanent Representative of Cyprus to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary General (A/57/764–S/2003/349)

United Nations

A/57/764–S/2003/349

  General Assembly

Security Council

Distr.: General

21 March 2003

Original: English


 


General Assembly                                                           Security Council
Fifty-seventh session                                                         
    Fifty-eighth year
Agenda item 54
Question of Cyprus

Letter dated 19 March 2003 from the Permanent Representative of Cyprus to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General

Upon instructions from my Government and further to my letter dated 30 December 2002, I have the honour to draw your attention to new violations of the flight information region (FIR) of Nicosia and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus by military aircraft of the Turkish Air Force recorded on 29 December 2002; on 7, 15, 17, 20, 22, 24, 25, 28, 29 and 30 January 2003; on 19, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 and 28 February 2003; and on 5, 10, 11, 13 and 14 March 2003, as follows.

On 29 December 2002 , one (1) C-650 Turkish military aircraft entered the Nicosia FIR, violating international air traffic regulations and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus , flying over the area of Mesaoria, before landing at the illegal airport of Lefkoniko in the occupied area of the Republic. The aircraft departed from the illegal airport of Lefkoniko the following day.

On 7 January 2003 , four (4) F-4 Turkish military aircraft, coming from the FIR of Ankara , flying in one formation, entered the Nicosia FIR, violating the international air traffic regulations before exiting in a westerly direction.

On 15 January 2003 , one (1) Turkish military aircraft of unknown type took off from the illegal airport of Krini in the occupied area of the Republic, violating international air traffic regulations and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus , flying over the area of Mesaoria, exited towards the FIR of Ankara .

On 17 January 2003 , one (1) Turkish military aircraft of unknown type entered the Nicosia FIR, violating international air traffic regulations and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus , flying over the area of Karpasia, before landing at the illegal airport of Lefkoniko in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus . The aircraft returned on the same day to the FIR of Ankara .

On 20 January 2003 , one (1) CN-235 Turkish military aircraft entered the Nicosia FIR, violating international air traffic regulations and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus , flying over the area of Mesaoria, before landing at the illegal airport of Lefkoniko in the occupied area of the Republic. The aircraft returned on the same day to the FIR of Ankara .

On 22 January 2003 , two (2) F-16 Turkish military aircraft, coming from the FIR of Ankara , flying in one formation, entered the Nicosia FIR, violating international air traffic regulations and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus , flying over the area of Cape Kormakitis , before exiting in a westerly direction.

On 22 January 2003 , four (4) F-4 Turkish military aircraft, in one formation, entered the Nicosia FIR, coming from the FIR of Ankara , violating international air traffic regulations, before exiting in a westerly direction.

On 24 January 2003 , one (1) Turkish military aircraft of unknown type took off from the illegal airport of Krini at the occupied area, violating international air traffic regulations and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus , flying over the area of Mesaoria, before exiting towards the FIR of Ankara .

On 25 January 2003 , one (1) CN-235 Turkish military aircraft entered the Nicosia FIR, violating international air traffic regulations and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus , flying over the area of Mesaoria before landing at the illegal airport of Lefkoniko in the occupied area of Cyprus . The aircraft departed from Cyprus on the same day.

On 28 January 2003 , one (1) C-650 Turkish military aircraft entered the Nicosia FIR, violating international air traffic regulations and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus , before landing at the illegal airport of Lefkoniko in the occupied area. The aircraft departed from Cyprus on the same day.

On 29 January 2003 , one (1) Turkish military aircraft of unknown type (probably B-200) entered the Nicosia FIR, violating international air traffic regulations and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus , flying over the area of Mesaoria, before landing at the illegal airport of Lefkoniko in the occupied area of Cyprus , from where it departed on the same day.

On 29 January 2003, four (4) Turkish military aircraft (two F-4 and two F-16), in one formation, entered the Nicosia FIR, coming from the FIR of Ankara, violating international air traffic regulations, before exiting in the same direction.

On 30 January 2003 , one (1) B-200 Turkish military aircraft entered the Nicosia FIR, violating international air traffic regulations and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus , flying over Mesaoria, before landing at the illegal airport of Lefkoniko in the occupied area of Cyprus , from where it departed on the same day.

On 19 February 2003 , one (1) CN-235 Turkish military aircraft entered the Nicosia FIR, violating international air traffic regulations and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus , flying over the area of Mesaoria before landing at the illegal airport of Lefkoniko in the occupied area of Cyprus , from where it departed on the same day.

On 23 February 2003 , one (1) C-130 Turkish military aircraft entered the Nicosia FIR, violating international air traffic regulations and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus , flying over the area of Karpasia ( Cape of Apostolos Andreas ) before exiting in a south-easterly direction. The aircraft returned on the same day.

On 24 February 2003 , four (4) F-16 Turkish military aircraft, flying in one formation, six (6) F-4, flying in one formation, one (1) CN-235, one (1) B-200 and one Turkish military aircraft of unknown type, entered the Nicosia FIR, violating international air traffic regulations and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus , as follows:

(a)     The two formations and the aircraft of the unknown type entered the Nicosia FIR, flying over the area of Karpasia ( Cape of Apostolos Andreas ) before exiting in a south-easterly direction. They returned on the same day, in the same direction;

(b)     The formations of F-16 and F-4 violated the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus over the area of Cape of Apostolos Andreas ;

(c)     The CN-235 aircraft violated the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus over the area of Cape of Apostolos Andreas in a search and rescue mission, before exiting towards the FIR of Ankara ;

(d)     The B-200 entered the Nicosia FIR coming from the FIR of Ankara , violating international air traffic regulations and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus , before landing at the illegal airport of Lefkoniko in the occupied area.

On 25 February 2003 , one (1) B-200 Turkish military aircraft took off from the illegal airport of Lefkoniko in the occupied area, where it had landed on 24 February, violating international air traffic regulations and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus , flying over the area of Mesaoria. The aircraft exited towards the FIR of Ankara .

On 26 February 2003, four (4) F-16 Turkish military aircraft, flying in two formations, one (1) CN-235, one (1) KC-135 and one (1) C-160 Turkish military aircraft entered the Nicosia FIR coming from the FIR of Ankara, violating international air traffic regulations and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus, as follows:

(a)     The two formations of F-16, the KC-135 and the C-160 aircraft entered the Nicosia FIR, flying over the area of Cape of Apostolos Andreas , before exiting in a south-easterly direction. The aircraft returned on the same day, in the same direction;

(b)     The CN-235 aircraft in a search and rescue mission violated international air traffic regulations and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus , before exiting towards the FIR of Ankara ;

(c)     The KC-135 escorted one formation of F-16 before exiting towards the FIR of Ankara ;

(d)     The C-160 violated international air traffic regulations and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus , flying over the Cape of Apostolos Andreas before exiting towards the FIR of Ankara .

On 27 February, four (4) F-16 in five formations, four (4) F-4 in one formation, one (1) CN-235 and three (3) KC-135 Turkish military aircraft, coming from the FIR of Ankara, entered the Nicosia FIR, violating international air traffic regulations and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus, as follows:

(a)     The six formations of F-16 and F-4 and the three KC-135 entered the Nicosia FIR and flying over the occupied area of Cape of Apostolos Andreas, exited in a south-easterly direction, from where they returned on the same day in the same direction;

(b)     Four formations of F-16 violated the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus , while exiting in a south-easterly direction;

(c)     Three KC-135 escorted the military aircraft. Two of these violated the international air traffic regulations and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus , while returning over the area of Cape of Apostolos Andreas ;

(d)     Two CN-235 in a search and rescue mission violated international air traffic regulations and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus , flying over the area of Cape of Apostolos Andreas , before returning towards the FIR of Ankara .

On 28 February 2003, four (4) F-16 in four formations, one (1) CN-235, two (2) KC-135 and one (1) C-130 Turkish military aircraft coming from the FIR of Ankara entered the Nicosia FIR, violating international air traffic regulations and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus, as follows:

(a)     Four formations of F-16, two KC-135 and one C-130 entered the Nicosia FIR, flying over the area of Cape of Apostolos Andreas and exiting in a south-easterly direction, from where they returned on the same day, in the same direction;

(b)     The two formations of F-16 and one C-130 violated the international air traffic regulations and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus , over the area of Cape of Apostolos Andreas ;

(c)     The F-16 formations were escorted by the KC-135 aircraft;

(d)     The CN-235, in a search and rescue mission, flying over the area of Cape of Apostolos Andreas , violating international air traffic regulations and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus , before exiting towards the FIR of Ankara .

On 5 March 2003 , one (1) Turkish military aircraft of unknown type entered the Nicosia FIR, violating the international air traffic regulations and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus , flying over the area of Mesaoria, before landing at the illegal airport of Lefkoniko . The aircraft returned on the same day.

On 5 March 2003 , two (2) F-4 Turkish military aircraft in two formations, coming from the FIR of Ankara , entered the Nicosia FIR, violating international air traffic regulations and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus , before exiting towards the FIR of Ankara .

On 10 March 2003 , one (1) CN-235 Turkish military aircraft entered the Nicosia FIR, violating international air traffic regulations and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus , flying over the area of Mesaoria before landing at the illegal airport of Lefkoniko , in the occupied area of Cyprus .

On 11 March 2003 , four (4) RF-4 Turkish military aircraft, flying in one formation, entered the Nicosia FIR, coming from the FIR of Ankara , violating international air traffic regulations, before exiting in a westerly direction.

On 13 March 2003 , four (4) Turkish military aircraft of unknown type entered the Nicosia FIR, coming from the FIR of Ankara , violating international air traffic regulations and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus , before exiting in a westerly direction.

On 14 March 2003 , two (2) F-16 Turkish military aircraft, flying in one formation, entered the Nicosia FIR coming from the FIR of Ankara , violating international air traffic regulations and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus , before exiting in a westerly direction.

On 14 March 2003 , one (1) CN-235 Turkish military aircraft took off from the illegal airport of Lefkoniko , in the occupied area, where it had landed on 10 March, violating international air traffic regulations and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus , flying over the area of Mesaoria, before exiting towards the FIR of Ankara .

On behalf of the Government of the Republic of Cyprus , I strongly protest all the above-mentioned violations of the Nicosia FIR and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus , which violate international law as well as Security Council resolutions on Cyprus , and call for their immediate cessation. It is hoped that the Government of Turkey will show restraint and respect of the sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus . The Government of Turkey should also heed the appeals of the international community to change its own negative stance and its backing for the Turkish-Cypriot leadership, which does not reflect the will of the Turkish-Cypriot community, in order to contribute to the efforts to find a just and functional solution to the Cyprus problem, on the basis of United Nations resolutions.

I should be grateful if you would have the present letter circulated as a document of the General Assembly, under agenda item 54, and of the Security Council.

 

 

(Signed) Sotos Zackheos
Ambassador
Permanent Representative