CYPRUS: Egyptian fishermen return to Limassol after boat was seized

Five Egyptian fishermen, detained by Turkish forces in the north of Cyprus for a week, returned by boat to Limassol in the south on Saturday.

The fishermen had been detained in custody by a Kyrenia court, in the Turkish-held north. No country, except Turkey recognises the Turkish Cypriot authorities in the north of the island.

Fishermen told reporters that six Turkish soldiers boarded their boat claiming that they were searching for illegal goods, i.e. drugs.

They were then arrested, and the captain was forced to sail the boat to Kyrenia port.

Some 200 police were waiting at the port to apprehend them last week, the fishermen said.

The said that the owner of the fishing company that owns the boat, gave them money to buy food because none was given to them while in detention.

Egypt's ambassador to Cyprus Mai Taha Mohammed Khalil, welcomed the safe return of the Egyptian nationals and expressed her gratitude to the Cypriot government for its assistance.

“I just want to say how happy I am that this ordeal ended in a good way and I would like first to greet the fishermen on their safe arrival. I would also like to thank the Cypriot Government for assisting us", she said.

The Cypriot owner of the boat, Aristos Aristeidou said his company will continue to fish as they have been doing so all these years off Cyprus.

Nicosia had protested to the United Nations over the detention of the crew and confiscation of the boat by the Turkish naval forces. The fishing boat was in international waters between Akamas and Kormakitis when the incident occurred.

The Turkish Cypriot media had reported that the crew of the Greek-flagged fishing boat belonging to a Cypriot company was arrested for entering the “territorial waters”.

Turkey invaded the Republic of Cyprus in 1974 and occupies 37% of the island`s territory.