Cyprus trying to solve flight safety problem caused by Turkey

Minister of Communications and Works Erato Kozakou Markoullis said on Thursday that the Republic of Cyprus was making focused efforts on a level of EU Transport Ministers and European and international organisations dealing with flight safety, in order to solve the problem of illegal interventions by the control tower of the airport in the Turkish occupied areas of the Republic, as well as the Turkish ban on Cyprus Airways and Eurocypria flights over Turkey.

Speaking at a press conference on the occasion of the regional meeting in Larnaca on flight safety, Markoullis thanked Eurocontrol and all the organisation that have made efforts over the years to solve the problem, which affects flight safety on a daily basis.

''Unfortunately, there has been no solution yet,'' she said, adding that efforts would continue.

Eurocontrol Deputy Director Eric Merckx said efforts were being made to find a so called technical solution in cooperation with other organisations, and that a series of meetings has already been held.

He added that the problem was political and there was a safety issue, and expressed fear that Eurocontrol may not be able to help.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third.