United Nations                                                                

          

General Assembly                         Distr.: General     

Security Council                            2 January 2003                    

                                                                           Original: English

Letter dated 30 December 2002 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 27 August 2002 (A/56/1030-S/2002/967), I have the honour to draw your 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 21, 22, 28 and 29 August, 2, 4, 12, 18, 19, 20, 22 and 24 September, 7, 11, 14, 18, 21 and 31 October, 9, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 18, 21 and 26 November and 3, 4, 11, and 16 December 2002.

          On 21 August, twenty-four F-16 and four F-4, flying in seven formations, two CN-235 and three 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 twenty F-16 and four F-4 aircraft in seven formations entered the Nicosia FIR, flying over the area of Karpasia (Cape of Apostolos Andreas) before exiting in a south-easterly direction, from where they returned later on the same day;

          (b)     One formation of F-16 and the formation of F-4 aircraft violated the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus , flying over the area of Karpasia ( Cape of Apostolos Andreas );

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

          (d)     The three KC-135 aircraft in a refuelling mission in the air, followed the same route with the military aircraft and returned on the same day to the FIR of Ankara .

          On 22 August, twenty-eight F-16, two RF-4 and four F-4 aircraft in seven formations, two CN-235 and three 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)     Twenty-two F-16, two RF-4 and four F-4 aircraft in seven formations entered the Nicosia FIR, flying over the area of Karpasia ( Cape of Apostolos Andreas ) before exiting in a south-westerly direction. The aircraft returned to the FIR of Ankara on the same day;

          (b)     One formation of two F-16 and two RF-4 and one formation of four F-16 (on their return) aircraft violated the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus , flying over the area of Karpasia ( Cape of Apostolos Andreas );

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

          (d)     The three KC-135, in a refuelling mission in the air, followed the same route with the military aircraft, exiting in a south-easterly direction and returned on the same day to the FIR of Ankara .

          On 28 August, two F-16 aircraft in one formation and one C-160 Turkish military aircraft coming from the FIR of Ankara entered the Nicosia FIR as follows:

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

          (b)     The C-160 entered the Nicosia FIR, violating international air traffic regulations and flying over the area of Karpasia ( Cape of Apostolos Andreas ), violated the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus before exiting in a south-easterly direction. The aircraft returned in the afternoon of the same day.

          On 29 August, two F-16 Turkish military aircraft, in one formation, coming from the FIR of Ankara , entered the Nicosia FIR, violating international air traffic regulations before exiting in a westerly direction.

          On 2 September, 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 aircraft returned on the same day to the FIR of Ankara .

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

          On 12 September, 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 Lefkoniko in the occupied area of the Republic. The aircraft returned on the same day to the FIR of Ankara .

          On 18 September, sixteen Turkish military aircraft in four formations, coming from a westerly direction and 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 in the same two directions from which they had come.

          On 18 September, 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 in a south-easterly direction. The aircraft returned on the same day to the FIR of Ankara .

          On 19 September, 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 Lefkoniko in the occupied area of the Republic. The aircraft returned on the same day to the FIR of Ankara .

          On 20 September, one CN-235 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 , flying over the area of Mesaoria before landing at the illegal airport of Lefkoniko in the occupied area of the Republic.

          On 22 September, one KC-135 aircraft, coming from a westerly direction, entered the Nicosia FIR, violating international air traffic regulations, before exiting towards the FIR of Ankara .

          On 24 September, eight F-16 Turkish military aircraft in two formations, coming from the FIR of Ankara and from a westerly direction, violated international air traffic regulations before exiting in the same two directions from which they had come.

          On 7 October, two F-4 Turkish military aircraft in one formation, coming from the FIR of Ankara , entered the Nicosia FIR, violating international air traffic regulations before exiting in the same direction from which they had come.

          On 11 October, three RF-4 Turkish military aircraft, coming from a westerly direction in one formation, entered the Nicosia FIR, violating international air traffic regulations, before exiting towards the FIR of Ankara .

          On 14 October, four Turkish military aircraft in one formation, coming from the FIR of Ankara , entered the Nicosia FIR, violating international air traffic regulations, before exiting in a westerly direction.

          On 14 October, two F-4 Turkish military aircraft in one formation, coming from the FIR of Ankara , entered the Nicosia FIR, violating international air traffic regulations, before exiting in a westerly direction.

          On 18 October, four F-4 Turkish military aircraft in one formation, coming from the FIR of Ankara , entered the Nicosia FIR, violating international air traffic regulations, before exiting in a westerly direction.

          On 21 October, 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 Lefkoniko in the occupied area of the Republic. The aircraft returned to the FIR of Ankara on 24 October, following the same route.

          On 31 October, sixteen F-16 Turkish military aircraft in four formations, coming from a westerly direction, entered the Nicosia FIR, violating international air traffic regulations, before exiting towards 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 Lefkoniko in the occupied area of the Republic. The aircraft returned on the same day to the FIR of Ankara .

          On 11 November, one Turkish military aircraft, after taking off from the airport of Krini in the occupied area of the Republic, violated international air traffic regulations and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus before exiting towards the FIR of Ankara.

          On 12 November, one Turkish military aircraft, after taking off from the airport of Konya, entered the Nicosia FIR, violating international air traffic regulations and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus, flying over the Mesaoria area before landing at the illegal airport of Lefkoniko in the occupied area of the Republic.

          On 14 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 in a south-easterly direction, from where it returned later on the same day to the FIR of Ankara .

          On 14 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 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 15 November, seven F-5 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 , flying over the area of Mesaoria, before returning to the FIR of Ankara in the same direction from which they had come.

          On 16 November, one Gulf Steam 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 18 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 Lefkoniko in the occupied area of the Republic. The aircraft returned on the same day to the FIR of Ankara .

          On 21 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 Lefkoniko in the occupied area of the Republic. The aircraft returned on the same day to the FIR of Ankara .

          On 26 November, fourteen Turkish military aircraft of unknown type in six formations, coming from the FIR of Ankara , entered the Nicosia FIR, violating international air traffic regulations, before returning to the FIR of Ankara in the same direction from which they had come.

          On 3 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 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 4 December, 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 Lefkoniko in the occupied area of the Republic. The aircraft returned to the FIR of Ankara the next day.

          On 11 December, one Turkish military aircraft of unknown type, coming from the FIR of Ankara , entered the Nicosia FIR, violating international air traffic regulations, before returning to the FIR of Ankara in the same direction from which it had come.

          On 16 December, two formations, each consisting of two Turkish military aircraft of unknown type, entered the Nicosia FIR, coming from the FIR of Ankara , violating international air traffic regulations, before exiting in a westerly direction.

          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. I would like to note that these violations are not conducive to the maintenance of the required positive climate, especially during the present important phase in the exercise of your mission of good offices, which enjoys the full support of the Security Council. It is hoped that the Government of Turkey will show restraint, cease the violation of the airspace of Cyprus and, heeding the call by the Security Council, assume its responsibilities towards the Turkish Cypriot leaders so that they will contribute to the efforts to find a just and viable 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
Permanent Representative

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