General Assembly
Fifty-ninth session

Agenda item 29

Question of Cyprus

Security Council

Fifty-ninth year

Letter dated 16 December 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
9 November 2004 to you (A/59/564-S/2004/893), 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 10, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 23, 24, 27 and 30 November and 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 14 and 15 December 2004, as follows.

On 10 November 2004, two C-130 and one Cougar Turkish military aircraft entered the FIR of Nicosia , carrying out a total of seven violations of international air traffic regulations and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus , as follows:

(a) The first 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 it departed, in a reverse direction. On the same day, the same Turkish military aircraft entered again the FIR of Nicosia, flying over the occupied area of Mesaoria, before landing at the illegal airport of Lefkoniko, from where it departed on the same day, towards the FIR of Ankara;

(b) The second C-130 Turkish military aircraft coming from the FIR of Ankara entered the FIR of Nicosia, violating the international air traffic regulations and the national airspace 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, towards the FIR of Ankara;

(c) The Cougar Turkish military aircraft took off from the illegal airport of Krini , violating the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus , flying over the occupied area of Morfou, before landing in the pocket area of Kokkina, from where it departed again, towards the illegal airport of Krini .

On 12 November 2004, 11 NF-5 Turkish military aircraft coming in three formations, 1 C-130 Turkish military aircraft and 1 Turkish military aircraft of unknown type entered the FIR of Nicosia , carrying out a total of eight violations of international air traffic regulations and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus , as follows:

(a) The formations of NF-5 Turkish military aircraft coming from the FIR of Ankara entered the FIR of Nicosia, violating the 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;

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

(c) The Turkish military aircraft of unknown type took off from the illegal airport of Krini , violating the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus , flying over the occupied area of Kyrenia, before landing at the same airport.

On 13 November 2004, one B-200 Turkish military aircraft entered the FIR of Nicosia , violating the 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 November 2004, 13 NF-5 Turkish military aircraft coming in two formations (1X5 and 1X8) and 2 Cougar Turkish military aircraft, carried out a total of three violations of the international air traffic regulations and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus , as follows:

(a) The first formation (1X5) of NF-5 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 landing at the same airport;

(b) The second formation (1X8) of NF-5 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 Kyrenia, before landing at the same airport;

(c) The two Cougar Turkish military aircraft took off from the illegal airport of Krini , violating the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus , flying over Nicosia in a northerly direction, before landing at the same airport.

On 16 November 2004, one B-200 Turkish military aircraft entered the FIR of Nicosia , violating the 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 17 November 2004, 11 NF-5 Turkish military aircraft coming in five formations (4X2 and 1X3), 2 C-130 Turkish military aircraft and 1 C-160 Turkish military aircraft, carried out a total of 12 violations of the international air traffic regulations and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus, as follows:

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

(b) The first C-130 Turkish military aircraft coming from the FIR of Ankara entered the FIR of Nicosia , violating the 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 it departed towards the FIR of Ankara . On the same day, the same Turkish military aircraft entered again the FIR of Nicosia, flying over the occupied area of Mesaoria, before landing at the illegal airport of Lefkoniko, from where it departed again, in a reverse direction;

(c) The second C-130 Turkish military aircraft coming from the FIR of Ankara entered the FIR of Nicosia, violating the 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;

(d) The C-160 Turkish military aircraft coming from the FIR of Ankara entered the FIR of Nicosia , violating the 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 towards the FIR of Ankara .

On 18 November 2004, one C-130 Turkish military aircraft took off from the illegal airport of Lefkoniko , violating the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus , before exiting towards the FIR of Ankara . On the same day, the same Turkish military aircraft entered again the FIR of Nicosia , violating the 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 it departed towards the FIR of Ankara .

On 19 and 20 November 2004, one Turkish military aircraft of unknown type and one CN-235 Turkish military entered the FIR of Nicosia and carried out a total of three violations of the international air traffic regulations and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus , as follows:

(a) The Turkish military aircraft of unknown type took off from the illegal airport of Krini , violating the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus , before departing towards the FIR of Ankara ;

(b) The CN-235 Turkish military aircraft coming from the FIR of Ankara entered the FIR of Nicosia , violating the 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 towards the FIR of Ankara .

On 23 November 2004, two Turkish military aircraft of unknown type carried out a total of three violations of the international air traffic regulations and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus , as follows:

(a) The first Turkish military aircraft of unknown type took off in the morning hours and again in the evening hours from the illegal airport of Krini, violating the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus, flying over the occupied areas of Kormakitis, Morfou and Kioneli, before landing at the same airport;

(b) The second Turkish military aircraft of unknown type coming from the FIR of Ankara entered the FIR of Nicosia , violating the international air traffic regulations and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus , before landing at the illegal airport of Krini .

On 24 November 2004, one C-130 Turkish military aircraft and one Turkish military aircraft of unknown type, carried out a total of three violations of the international air traffic regulations and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus , as follows:

(a) The C-130 Turkish military aircraft coming from the FIR of Ankara entered the FIR of Nicosia , violating the 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 . It departed on the same day towards Turkey ;

(b) The Turkish military aircraft of unknown type took off from the illegal airport of Krini , violating the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus , flying over the occupied area of Morfou and the pocket area of Kokkina, before landing at the same airport.

On 27 November 2004, four Turkish military aircraft of unknown type carried out a total of four violations of the international air traffic regulations and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus , as follows:

(a) The two aircraft took off from the illegal airport of Krini , violating the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus , before exiting towards the FIR of Ankara , from where they returned and landed at the same airport;

(b) The third aircraft took off from the illegal airport of Krini , violating the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus , before exiting towards the FIR of Ankara , from where it returned and landed at the same airport;

(c) The fourth aircraft coming from the FIR of Ankara entered the FIR of Nicosia , violating the 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 30 November 2004, two F-4 Turkish military aircraft coming in one formation from the FIR of Ankara entered the FIR of Nicosia , violating the international air traffic regulations.

On the same day, two F-4 Turkish military aircraft coming in one formation from the FIR of Ankara entered the FIR of Nicosia , violating the international air traffic regulations and national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus .

On 1 December 2004, eight F-4 Turkish military aircraft coming in three formations (2X2 and 1X4) and one C-130 Turkish military aircraft entered the FIR of Nicosia , in a total of five violations of the international air traffic regulations and three violations of the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus , as follows:

(a) The first formation (1X2) of F-4 Turkish military aircraft coming from the FIR of Ankara entered the FIR of Nicosia, violating the international air traffic regulations, before exiting towards the FIR of Ankara;

(b) The second formation (1X4) of F-4 Turkish military aircraft coming from a westerly direction entered the FIR of Nicosia, violating the international air traffic regulations, before exiting towards the FIR of Ankara;

(c) The third formation (1X2) of F-4 Turkish military aircraft coming from the FIR of Ankara entered the FIR of Nicosia, violating the international air traffic regulations and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus, flying over the occupied area of Kyrenia, before exiting towards the FIR of Ankara, from where it re-entered the FIR of Nicosia, then exiting again towards the FIR of Ankara;

(d) The C-130 Turkish military aircraft coming from the FIR of Ankara entered the FIR of Nicosia , violating the 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 later departed towards the FIR of Ankara .

On 2 December 2004, two F-4 Turkish military aircraft coming in one formation from the FIR of Ankara entered the FIR of Nicosia , violating the international air traffic regulations.

On 3 December 2004, four F-4 Turkish military aircraft coming in one formation from the FIR of Ankara entered the FIR of Nicosia , violating the international air traffic regulations.

On 6 December 2004, two F-4 Turkish military aircraft coming in one formation and one C-130 Turkish military aircraft, carried out a total of two violations of international air traffic regulations and one violation of the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus , as follows:

(a) The formation of F-4 Turkish military aircraft coming from the FIR of Ankara entered the FIR of Nicosia, violating the international air traffic regulations, before exiting towards the FIR of Ankara;

(b) The C-130 coming from the FIR of Ankara entered the FIR of Nicosia , violating the 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 .

On 7 December 2004, one C-130 Turkish military aircraft took off from the illegal airport of Tymbou , violating the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus , before exiting towards the FIR of Ankara .

On 8 December 2004, one C-130 Turkish military aircraft entered the FIR of Nicosia , violating the 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 towards the FIR of Ankara .

On 14 December 2004, one CN-235 Turkish military aircraft entered the FIR of Nicosia , violating the 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 towards the FIR of Ankara .

On 15 December 2004, one C-160 Turkish military aircraft and one Turkish military aircraft of unknown type carried out a total of three violations of the international air traffic regulations and the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus , as follows:

(a) The C-160 coming from the FIR of Ankara entered the FIR of Nicosia, violating the 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 towards the FIR of Ankara;

(b) The Turkish military aircraft of unknown type took off from the illegal airport of Krini , violating the national airspace of the Republic of Cyprus , before departing towards the FIR of Ankara .

As repeatedly indicated in our previous communications, the aforementioned violations blatantly contravene international law and air traffic regulations and seriously endanger international civil aviation.

On behalf of the Government of the Republic of Cyprus , I strongly protest the above violations and call for their immediate cessation. The Government of Turkey should respect the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus and contribute to the creation of the required conditions for the achievement of progress with respect to the long-standing political problem in Cyprus .

I should be grateful if you would have the present letter circulated as a document of the General Assembly, under agenda item 29, and of the Security Council.