May 14, 2024

Letter dated 22 January 2002 from the Charge d’affaires a.i. of Cyprus to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary General (A/56/785–S/2002/100)

United Nations

A/56/785–S/2002/100

  General Assembly

Security Council

Distr.: General

22 January 2002

Original: English


 


General Assembly                                                           Security Council
Fifty-sixth session                                                         
    Fifty-seventh year
Agenda item 62
Question of Cyprus

Letter dated 22 January 2001 from the Charge d’affaires of the Permanent Mission of Cyprus to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General

           Upon further instructions from my government and further to my letter dated 16 October 2001(A/56/476-S/2001/972), I have the honour to draw Your Excellency’s attention to new massive 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 12, 15, 22, 24 and 25 October, 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 14, 15, 16, 21, 22 and 29 November and on 5, 12, 13, 24, 25 and 26 December 2001.

                   On 12 October, one C-160 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 Tymbou in the occupied area of the Republic. The aircraft returned on the same day to the FIR of Ankara.

On 15 October, two RF-4 Turkish military aircraft, flying in one formation, entered the Nicosia FIR, violating international air traffic regulations before returning to the FIR of Ankara.

On 22 October, one B-200 and one 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 Tymbou in the occupied area of the Republic. The B-200 aircraft returned on the same day to the FIR of Ankara while the CN-235 returned to the FIR of Ankara on 26 October 2001.

On 24 October, one C-160 and one CN-235 Turkish military aircraft entered the Nicosia FIR, violating international air traffic regulations and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus, as follows:

(a)      The C-160 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 towards a south-eastern direction. The aircraft returned on the same day from the same direction and flying over the area of Karpasia, violated again the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus, before exiting towards the FIR of Ankara;

(b)      The CN-235 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 Tymbou in the occupied area of the Republic. The aircraft returned on the same day to the FIR of Ankara.

On 25 October, two F-4 Turkish military aircraft, coming from the FIR of Ankara, entered the Nicosia FIR, violating international air traffic regulations before exiting towards a westerly direction.

On 1 November, one F-4 Turkish military aircraft, coming from a south-eastern direction, 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 towards the FIR of Ankara.

On 2 November, two F-4 and two RF-4, flying in one formation, coming from the FIR of Ankara, 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) and then in parallel with the north coastline of Cyprus, before exiting towards the FIR of Ankara.

On 6 November, one 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 the area of Mesaoria, before landing at the illegal airport of Tymbou in the occupied area of the Republic. The aircraft returned to the FIR of Ankara on 8 November.

On 7 November, one F-4 and one C-130 Turkish military aircraft entered the Nicosia FIR, violating international air traffic regulations and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus, as follows:

(a)      The F-4 aircraft, coming from a south-eastern direction, 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 towards the FIR of Ankara;

(b)      The C-130 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, flying over the area of Karpasia (Cape of Apostolos Andreas) before exiting towards a south-eastern direction. The said aircraft returned from the same direction.

On 8 November, one 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 the area of Mesaoria, before landing at the illegal airport of Tymbou in the occupied area of the Republic. The B-200 aircraft returned on the same day to the FIR of Ankara.

On 9 November, one 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 Tymbou in the occupied area of the Republic. The CN-235 aircraft returned on the same day to the FIR of Ankara.

On 12 November, one 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 Tymbou in the occupied area of the Republic. The C-650 aircraft returned on the same day to the FIR of Ankara.

On 14 November, one CN-235 and one GulfStream 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 Tymbou in the occupied area of the Republic. Both aircraft returned on the same day to the FIR of Ankara.

On 15 November, one 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 Mesaoria, before landing at the illegal airport of Tymbou in the occupied area of the Republic. The C-130 aircraft returned on the same day to the FIR of Ankara.

On 16 November, one 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 Tymbou in the occupied area of the Republic. The CN-235 aircraft returned on the same day to the FIR of Ankara.

On 21 November, two F-16, flying in one formation, and one C-160 Turkish military aircraft entered the Nicosia FIR, violating international air traffic regulations and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus, as follows:

(a)      The two F-16 aircraft, coming from the Ankara FIR, entered the Nicosia FIR, violating international air traffic regulations before exiting towards a westerly direction;

(b)      The C-160 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, flying over the area of Mesaoria, before landing at the illegal airport of Tymbou in the occupied area of the Republic. The CN-235 aircraft returned on the same day to the FIR of Ankara.

On 22 November, one C-160 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 towards a south-eastern direction. The aircraft returned afterwards from the same direction.

On 29 November, one 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 Tymbou in the occupied area of the Republic. The CN-235 aircraft returned on the same day to the FIR of Ankara.

On 5 December, one 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 towards a south-eastern direction. The aircraft returned afterwards from the same direction.

On 12 December, one C-160 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 towards a south-eastern direction. The aircraft returned afterwards from the same direction.

On 13 December, one F-4 Turkish military aircraft, coming from a south-eastern direction, 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 towards the FIR of Ankara.

On 24 December, twelve F-16, four F-4, one CN-235 and two KC-135 Turkish military aircraft entered the Nicosia FIR, violating international air traffic regulations and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus, as follows:

(a)      One CN-235 violated the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus, flying over the area of Karpasia (Cape of Apostolos Andreas) before returning to the FIR of Ankara;

(b)      Two KC-135 military aircraft entered the Nicosia FIR, violating the air traffic regulations before exiting towards a south-eastern direction. The aircraft returned on the same day from the same direction;

(c)      Eight F-16, flying in two formations, violated the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus, flying over the area of Karpasia (Cape of Apostolos Andreas) before exiting towards a south-eastern direction. The aircraft returned on the same day from the same direction;

(d)      Four F-16 military aircraft, flying in one formation, entered the Nicosia FIR, violating the air traffic regulations before exiting towards a south-eastern direction. The aircraft returned on the same day from the same direction;

(e)      Four F-4 military aircraft, flying in one formation, entered the Nicosia FIR, violating the air traffic regulations before exiting towards a south-eastern direction. The aircraft returned on the same day from the same direction.

On 25 December, four F-16, four F-4, one CN-235 and one KC-135 Turkish military aircraft entered the Nicosia FIR, violating international air traffic regulations and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus, as follows:

(a)      One CN-235 violated the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus, flying over the area of Karpasia (Cape of Apostolos Andreas) before returning to the FIR of Ankara;

(b)      The KC-135 military aircraft entered the Nicosia FIR, violating the air traffic regulations before exiting towards a south-eastern direction. The aircraft returned on the same day from the same direction;

(c)      Four F-16 and four F-4 military aircraft, flying in two formations, violated the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus, flying over the area of Karpasia (Cape of Apostolos Andreas) before exiting towards a south-eastern direction. The aircraft returned on the same day from the same direction.

On 26 December, eight F-16, one CN-235, one KC-135 and one C-160 Turkish military aircraft entered the Nicosia FIR, violating international air traffic regulations and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus, as follows:

(a)      One CN-235 violated the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus, flying over the area of Karpasia (Cape of Apostolos Andreas) before returning to the FIR of Ankara;

(b)      The KC-135 military aircraft entered the Nicosia FIR, violating the air traffic regulations before exiting towards a south-eastern direction. The aircraft returned on the same day from the same direction;

          (c)      The C-160 military aircraft violated the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus,flying over the area of Karpasia (Cape of Apostolos Andreas) before exiting towards a south-eastern direction. The aircraft returned on the same day from the same direction;

(d)      Four F-16 military aircraft, flying in one formation, violated the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus, flying over the area of Karpasia (Cape of Apostolos Andreas) before exiting towards a south-eastern direction. The aircraft returned on the same day, flying in two formations, from the same direction;

(e)      Four F-16 military aircraft, flying in one formation returning to the FIR of Ankara, entered the Nicosia FIR, violating the air traffic regulations before exiting towards a south-eastern direction. The aircraft returned on the same day from the same direction.

On behalf of the Government of the Republic of Cyprus, I strongly protest the above actions, which violate international law as well as the Security Council resolutions on Cyprus, and call for their cessation. I would like to note that these violations are occurring at the moment of the beginning of direct talks in Cyprus at the invitation of the Secretary-General of the United Nations in the exercise of his mission of good offices. Let us not forget that the Security Council in its statement of 14 December 2001, gave its full support to the Secretary-General’s mission of good offices conducted pursuant to Security Council resolution 1250 (1999). Let us hope that the Government of Turkey will show restraint and will cease the violation of the airspace of Cyprus and contribute to the efforts to find a just and viable solution to the Cyprus problem on the basis of United Nations resolutions.

I shall be grateful if you would have the present letter circulated as a document of the General Assembly, under agenda item 62, and of the Security Council.

 

(Signed) Dr. George Kasoulides
Chargé d’affaires a.i.