Turkey violates Cypriot airspace

Turkey violated Cypriot airspace over the weekend in an apparent response to the military exercise “Nikiforos” which the Cyprus National Guard is currently undertaking for the first time in four years but without the participation of Greece.

President Papadopoulos who watched the Nikiforos manoeuvres with the use of live ammunition that took place in the framework of the military exercise said “these actions do not help Turkey very much”.

“The political message of Nikiforos military exercise is that we want peace”, he said adding that “in order to maintain peace you must be prepared for war”.

President Papadopoulos said he was impressed by the accuracy and coordination of Cyprus military forces.