General Assembly
Fifty-eighth session

Agenda item 30

Question of Cyprus

Security Council

Fifty-ninth year

Letter dated 17 May 2004 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 13 May 2004, I have the honour to draw your attention to a new violation of the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus and the flight information region (FIR) of Nicosia by four (4) military aircraft of the Turkish Air Force flying in one formation, recorded today at 11:30 local time. A relevant map of the above-mentioned violation is attached herewith (see annex).

It has been particularly disappointing to witness the continuation of violations of the airspace of

Cyprus, as we were concentrating our efforts on achieving a lasting and viable solution to the

Cyprus

problem. We earnestly hoped that the Government of Turkey would have embraced this new spirit, in order to defuse tension and adopt a new and constructive approach, so that peace and reconciliation can prevail in our area. I would like to stress also that the violations continue to occur, after the official accession of

Cyprus

to the European Union on 1 May 2004 and in spite of the declared policy of

Turkey

to advance towards convincing the European Union that it fulfils the criteria for opening accession negotiations.

On behalf of the Government of the Republic of Cyprus , I strongly protest the above-mentioned violation of the Nicosia FIR and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus , which is contrary to international law as well as to Security Council resolutions on

Cyprus

. We sincerely hope that the Government of Turkey will respect the sovereignty of

Cyprus

and will refrain from further violations.

I should be grateful, Excellency, if you would have the present letter and its annex circulated as a document of the General Assembly, under agenda item 30, and of the Security Council.

Annex to the letter dated 17 May 2004 from the Permanent Representative of Cyprus to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General