United Nations                                                                                              A/58/858–S/2004/597


          

General Assembly                         Distr.: General     

Security Council                            27 July 2004                    

                                                               

                                                                           Original: English


General Assembly
Fifty-eighth session

Agenda item 30

Question of Cyprus

 

Security Council

Fifty-ninth year

 

                    

 

Letter dated 26 July 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 17 May 2004, 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 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21 and 26 May 2004, on 2, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 16, 18, 22, 23, 24, 25, 29 and 30 June 2004, on 1, 3, 7, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21 and 22 July 2004, as follows.

          On 11 May 2004, one AB-205 Turkish military aircraft and one Turkish military aircraft of unknown type entered the FIR of Nicosia , violating international air traffic regulations and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus , as follows:

          (a)     The AB-205 took off from the illegal airport of Krini , in a search and rescue mission in the north of Cape Apostolos Andreas, before departing in a reverse direction;

          (b)     The Turkish military aircraft of unknown type, coming from the FIR of Ankara , entered the FIR of Nicosia , violating the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus , flying over the occupied area of Mesaoria, before landing at the illegal airport of Krini , where it remained.

          On 12 May 2004, one C-160 Turkish military aircraft entered the FIR of Nicosia , violating international traffic regulations and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus , flying over the occupied area of Mesaoria, before landing at the illegal airport of Tymbou , from where it departed on the same day in a reverse direction.

          On 13 May 2004, a total of 10 Turkish military aircraft — eight F-16 Turkish military aircraft in four formations (2 X 4) and two F-4 Turkish military aircraft in one formation — coming from the FIR of Ankara, entered the FIR of Nicosia, violating international air traffic regulations.

          On 14 May 2004, one Gulfstream Turkish military aircraft entered the FIR of Nicosia , violating international air traffic regulations and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus , flying over the occupied area of Mesaoria, before landing at the illegal airport of Tymbou , from where it departed on the same day in a reverse direction.

          On 15 May 2004, one AB-205 Turkish military aircraft took off from the illegal airport of Krini , violating international air traffic regulations and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus , flying over the occupied area of Mesaoria, before departing towards the FIR of Ankara .

          On 16 May 2004, one AB-205 Turkish military aircraft took off from the illegal airport of Krini , violating international air traffic regulations and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus , flying over the occupied area of Mesaoria, before departing towards the FIR of Ankara .

          On 17 May 2004, a total of four Turkish military aircraft — two F-16s and two F-4s — coming in two formations, entered the FIR of Nicosia, violating international air traffic regulations and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus, flying over the occupied area of Cape Apostolos Andreas, before departing towards the FIR of Ankara.

          On 18 May 2004, one C-160 Turkish military aircraft entered the FIR of Nicosia , violating international air traffic regulations and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus , flying over the occupied area of Mesaoria, before landing at the illegal airport of Tymbou , from where it departed on the same day in a reverse direction.

          On 20 May 2004, four F-16 Turkish military aircraft, coming from the FIR of Ankara in one formation, entered the FIR of Nicosia , violating international air traffic regulations, before exiting in a westerly direction.

          On 21 May 2004, one Turkish military aircraft of unknown type entered the FIR of Nicosia, violating international air traffic regulations and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus, flying over the occupied area of Mesaoria, before landing at the illegal airport of Tymbou and, later, at the illegal airport of Krini, where it remained.

          On 26 May 2004, one C-130 and one CN-235 Turkish military aircraft entered the FIR of Nicosia , violating international air traffic regulations and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus , flying over the occupied area of Mesaoria before landing at the illegal airport of Tymbou , from where they departed on the same day in a reverse direction.

          On 2 June 2004, one C-130 Turkish military aircraft entered the FIR of Nicosia, violating international air traffic regulations, flying over the occupied area of Mesaoria, before landing at the illegal airport of Tymbou, from where it departed on the same day in a reverse direction.

          On 6 June 2004, two CN-235 Turkish military aircraft entered the FIR of Nicosia , violating international air traffic regulations and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus , flying over the occupied area of Mesaoria, before landing at the illegal airport of Tymbou . One of the CN-235 Turkish military aircraft departed on the same day in a reverse direction.

          On 8 June 2004, one CN-235 Turkish military aircraft took off twice from the illegal airport of Tymbou , on a mission to drop parachutists over the occupied area of Lefkoniko, violating international air traffic regulations and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus .

          On 9 June 2004, one C-160 Turkish military aircraft entered the FIR of Nicosia , violating international air traffic regulations and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus , flying over the occupied area of Mesaoria, before landing at the illegal airport of Tymbou , from where it departed on the same day in a reverse direction.

          On the same day, one CN-235 Turkish military aircraft took off twice from the illegal airport of Tymbou , on a mission to drop parachutists, violating international air traffic regulations and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus . The aircraft departed on the same day towards the FIR of Ankara .

          On 10 June 2004, two Turkish military aircraft of unknown type took off from the illegal airport of Krini , violating international air traffic regulations, flying over the occupied areas of Lefkoniko and Kyrenia, before returning to the same airport.

          On the same day, two F-4 Turkish military aircraft, coming from the FIR of Ankara in one formation, entered the FIR of Nicosia , violating international air traffic regulations, before departing in a reverse direction.

          On 11 June 2004, one Turkish military aircraft of unknown type took off from the illegal airport of Krini , violating international air traffic regulations and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus , flying over the occupied areas of Karpasia and Kyrenia, before returning to the same airport.

          On 14 June 2004, two Turkish military aircraft of unknown type took off from the illegal airport of Krini , violating international air traffic regulations and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus , flying over the occupied areas of Karpasia and Kyrenia, before returning to the same airport.

          On 16 June 2004, a total of four Turkish military aircraft — two F-16s and two F-4s — coming in one formation, entered the FIR of Nicosia, violating the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus, flying over the occupied areas of Cape Greco, Cape Apostolos Andreas and Cape Kormakitis, before exiting towards the FIR of Ankara.

          On the same day, one C-160 Turkish military aircraft entered the FIR of Nicosia , violating the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus , flying over the occupied area of Mesaoria, before landing at the illegal airport of Tymbou , from where it departed on the same day, in a reverse direction.

          On 18 June 2004, one C-160 Turkish military aircraft entered the FIR of Nicosia , violating international air traffic regulations and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus , flying over the occupied area of Mesaoria, before landing at the illegal airport of Tymbou , from where it departed on the same day, in a reverse direction.

          On 22 June 2004, one C-160 Turkish military aircraft entered the FIR of Nicosia , violating international air traffic regulations and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus , flying over the occupied area of Mesaoria, before landing at the illegal airport of Tymbou , from where it departed on the same day, in a reverse direction.

          On the same day, one Turkish military aircraft of unknown type took off from the illegal airport of Krini , violating international air traffic regulations and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus , flying over the occupied area of Mesaoria, before returning to the same airport.

          On 23 June 2004, one C-130 Turkish military aircraft entered the FIR of Nicosia , violating international air traffic regulations and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus , flying over the occupied area of Mesaoria, before landing at the illegal airport of Tymbou , from where it departed on the same day, in a reverse direction.

          On the same day, one AB-205 Turkish military aircraft took off from the illegal airport of Krini , violating international air traffic regulations and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus , flying over the occupied area of Morfou, before returning to the same airport.

          On 24 June 2004, two F-4 Turkish military aircraft, coming from the FIR of Ankara in one formation, entered the FIR of Nicosia , violating international air traffic regulations, before exiting towards the FIR of Ankara .

          On 25 June 2004, one Turkish military aircraft of unknown type took off from the illegal airport of Krini , violating international air traffic regulations and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus , flying over the occupied area of Morfou, before returning to the same airport.

          On 29 June 2004, a total of four Turkish military aircraft — two F-4s and two RF-4s — coming in one formation from the FIR of Ankara , entered the FIR of Nicosia , violating international air traffic regulations, before exiting in a reverse direction.

          On 30 June 2004, one Turkish military aircraft of unknown type took off from the illegal airport of Krini , violating international air traffic regulations and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus , before landing in the area of Kokkina. The aircraft departed on the same day, in a reverse direction.

          On the same day, one C-160 Turkish military aircraft entered the FIR of Nicosia , violating international air traffic regulations and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus , flying over the occupied area of Mesaoria, before landing at the illegal airport of Tymbou , from where it departed in a reverse direction.

          On 1 July 2004, one Turkish military aircraft of unknown type took off from the illegal airport of Krini , violating international air traffic regulations and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus , flying over the occupied areas of Mesaoria and Famagusta , before returning to the same airport.

          On 3 July 2004, one Turkish military aircraft of unknown type took off from the illegal airport of Krini , violating international air traffic regulations and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus , flying over the occupied area of Karpasia, before returning to the same airport.

          On 7 July 2004, one C-130 Turkish military aircraft entered the FIR of Nicosia , violating international air traffic regulations and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus , flying over the occupied area of Mesaoria, before landing at the illegal airport of Tymbou , from where it departed in a reverse direction.

          On 14 July 2004, one C-160 Turkish military aircraft entered the FIR of Nicosia , violating international air traffic regulations and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus , flying over the occupied area of Mesaoria, before landing at the illegal airport of Tymbou , from where it departed in a reverse direction.

          On 15 July 2004, one Turkish military aircraft of unknown type took off from the illegal airport of Krini , violating international air traffic regulations and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus , flying over the occupied area of Karpasia, before returning to the same airport.

          On 16 July 2004, two C-130 Turkish military aircraft entered the FIR of Nicosia , violating international air traffic regulations and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus as follows:

          (a)     One of the C-130s, coming from the FIR of Ankara, entered the FIR of Nicosia, flying over the occupied area of Mesaoria, before landing at the illegal airport of Tymbou, from where it departed on the same day in a reverse direction;

          (b)     The other C-130, coming from the FIR of Ankara , entered the FIR of Nicosia , flying west of the occupied area of Kyrenia, before departing in a reverse direction.

          On the same day, two C-130 Turkish military aircraft and two Turkish military aircraft of unknown type entered the FIR of Nicosia , violating international air traffic regulations and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus as follows:

          (a)     The two C-130 Turkish military aircraft, coming from the FIR of Ankara, entered the FIR of Nicosia, flying over the occupied area of Mesaoria, before landing at the illegal airport of Lefkoniko, from where they departed on the same day in a reverse direction;

          (b)     The two Turkish military aircraft of unknown type took off from the illegal airport of Krini and flew over the occupied area of Mesaoria. One of them landed at the illegal airport of Tymbou where it remained, while the other returned to the illegal airport of Krini .

          On 19 July 2004, a total of 12 NF-5 Turkish military aircraft, coming in three formations, one C-130 Turkish military aircraft and one Turkish military aircraft of unknown type, coming from the FIR of Ankara, entered the FIR of Nicosia, violating international air traffic regulations and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus as follows:

          (a)     The 12 NF-5 Turkish military aircraft violated the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus , flying over the occupied areas of Kyrenia and Mesaoria, before landing at the illegal airport of Lefkoniko , where they remained;

          (b)     The C-130 Turkish military aircraft violated the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus , flying over the occupied area of Mesaoria, before landing at the illegal airport of Lefkoniko , where it remained;

          (c)     The Turkish military aircraft of unknown type violated the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus , flying over the occupied area of Mesaoria, before landing at the illegal airport of Tymbou , from where it departed on the same day in an opposite direction.

          On 20 July 2004, two Cougar Turkish military aircraft and two formations of NF-5 Turkish military aircraft violated international air traffic regulations and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus as follows:

          (a)     The two Cougar Turkish military aircraft took off from the illegal airport of Krini in the morning hours, violating the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus, flying over the occupied area of Mesaoria, before landing at the same airport;

          (b)     The first formation of five NF-5 Turkish military aircraft took off from the illegal airport of Lefkoniko in the morning hours, violating the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus, flying over the occupied area of Mesaoria, before landing at the same airport;

          (c)     The second formation of 10 NF-5 Turkish military aircraft took off from the illegal airport of Lefkoniko in the evening hours, violating the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus , flying over the occupied areas of Kyrenia and Mesaoria, before landing at the same airport.

          On 21 July 2004, 12 NF-5 Turkish military aircraft in one formation and two C-130 Turkish military aircraft violated international air traffic regulations and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus as follows:

          (a)     The 12 NF-5 Turkish military aircraft took off from the illegal airport of Lefkoniko, flying over the occupied area of Mesaoria, violating the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus, before exiting towards the FIR of Ankara;

          (b)    The first C-130 Turkish military aircraft entered the FIR of Nicosia, violating international air traffic regulations and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus, flying over the occupied area of Mesaoria, before landing at the illegal airport of Tymbou, from where it departed on the same day, in an opposite direction;

          (c)     The second C-130 Turkish military aircraft entered the FIR of Nicosia , violating international air traffic regulations and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus , flying over the occupied area of Mesaoria, before landing at the illegal airport of Lefkoniko , where it remained.

          On 22 July 2004, three C-130 Turkish military aircraft and one Gulfstream Turkish military aircraft violated international air traffic regulations and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus as follows:

          (a)     Two of the C-130 Turkish military aircraft, coming from the FIR of Ankara, entered the FIR of Nicosia, violating international air traffic regulations and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus, flying over the occupied area of Mesaoria, before landing at the illegal airport of Lefkoniko, from where they took off on the same day, in an opposite direction;

          (b)     The third C-130 Turkish military aircraft took off from the illegal airport of Lefkoniko, violating the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus, flying over the occupied area of Mesaoria, before exiting towards the FIR of Ankara;

          (c)     The Gulfstream Turkish military aircraft, coming from the FIR of Ankara , entered the FIR of Nicosia , violating the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus , flying over the occupied area of Mesaoria, before landing at the illegal airport of Tymbou , where it remained.

          On the same day, one Gulfstream Turkish military aircraft took off from the illegal airport of Tymbou , violating international air traffic regulations and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus , before exiting towards the FIR of Ankara .

          It is highly regrettable that Turkey insists on disregarding not only international safety regulations, thus placing at risk international air navigation, but also international law and relevant Security Council resolutions. Turkey ’s pretentious allegations about the existence of “appropriate” authorities in the northern part of Cyprus , arrogating jurisdiction over the sovereign airspace of the Republic of Cyprus , reveal that the Turkish Government never ceased pursuing its long-standing separatist policy on Cyprus by promoting an illegal, secessionist entity. Turkey’s refusal to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of a country Member of the United Nations and the European Union, coupled with its attempts to legitimize the results of an invasion and subsequent occupation, is greatly disheartening, particularly at a time when Turkey aspires to become a member of the European Union. It is thus with great disappointment that we witness Turkey opting to consolidate division and insecurity, instead of responding positively to the confidence-building measures recently proposed by the Government of Cyprus in an effort to enhance mutual trust between the two communities.

          On behalf of the Government of the Republic of Cyprus , I strongly protest all the above-mentioned violations of the Nicosia flight information region and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus . It is evident that such actions are neither compatible with Turkey ’s international obligations nor conducive to the efforts for reconciliation and reunification of Cyprus . In this regard, we call upon Turkey to refrain from further violations and to adopt a new, positive and sincere approach, which will lead to a fair settlement of the Cyprus problem and an end to the present status quo.

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

 

(Signed) Andreas D. Mavroyiannis

   

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