POLITICS: Cyprus protests arrest of fishing boat with five crew by Turkish warship

Nicosia has protested to the United Nations over the detention of a Cyprus-flagged fishing vessel with five crew on board by a Turkish warship.

“The Government has made strong representations to the United Nations,” said government Spokesman Prodromos Prodromou.

He said the government was working for the release of the detained fishermen – one Cypriot and four Egyptian nationals.

The United Nations Peacekeeping Forces in Cyprus is also working to resolve the situation.

"We are aware of this incident and are in contact with authorities of both sides to help resolve the situation," UNFICYP Spokesperson Aleem Siddique told CNA.

A Turkish warship forced the Cypriot fishing boat to sail to the Turkish-held port of Kyrenia, detaining its five-member crew.

Cyprus Foreign Ministry spokesman Demetris Samuel said the owner of the Cyprus-flagged fishing boat told authorities that a Turkish warship approached his vessel 32 kilometres off the island’s northwestern coast Friday evening.

A Turkish Cypriot news agency quoted police as saying five people aboard a Greek-flagged boat were arrested for violating Turkish Cypriot territorial waters, at a spot nine 14 kilometres off the northwestern coast.