CYPRUS: Turkish warships harass Cypriot fishing boat

Two Turkish navy vessels harassed a Cypriot fishing boat while it was fishing in international waters between Turkey and Cyprus, in an incident which Nicosia is expected to protest about to the UN.

Greek Cypriot Aristos Aristidou, the owner of the fishing boat told CNA that his trawler was in international waters, 16 nautical miles off Turkey, when two Turkish warships harassed the vessel, asking the captain to leave the area.

“The captain contacted me at about 0200 hours (2300 GMT) and I then asked him to move away to 24 nautical miles (off Turkey) and to remain in international waters,” Aristidou said.

He said adding at about 0400 hours (0100 GMT) Thursday the two Turkish warships harassed the vessel again threatening to tow it and to arrest everyone on board.

The trawler was forced to leave the area and the two warships escorted the boat away for some distance. It later returned to Limassol port.

Aristidou said he was surprise over the incident since this is an area used by his fishing boats for years.

The incident was reported to the Cyprus Department of Fisheries. Marina Argyrou, who heads the department told CNA that the file has been forwarded to the Foreign Affairs Ministry which is expected to refer it to the United Nations.