CYPRUS yesterday protested at Israel’s decision to allow Turkish jets to land in the Jewish State after they had violated the island’s air space.
Defence Minister Yiannakis Omirou said all the information his department had on the incident would be forwarded to the Foreign Ministry, which is responsible for making official representations.
On Sunday, 24 Turkish military aircraft and three refuelling planes set off from a base in southern Turkey and flew over Cyprus air space on their way to Israel.
The planes returned to Turkey later in day, again violating the island’s air space, the Defence Ministry said.
Israel and Turkey have a military co-operation pact, which has recently become a bone of contention in Cyprus-Israel relations, despite Israeli assurances that the island is not affected.
The assurances were repeated during a visit here by Israeli President Ezer Weizman earlier this month, but the Cyprus government was not convinced.
Omirou said yesterday he would suggest that the Foreign Ministry makes “strong” representations over Sunday’s incidents.
He was speaking after a meeting with Acting President Spyros Kyprianou.
Omirou also said that countries such as the US and the UK, which claim to have an interest in stability in the region, should show some responsibility when incidents occurred.
“I must stress than an Israel which accepts into its air space planes that have violated the air space of Cyprus, also has a responsibility,” Omirou said.
“Independent of a military co-operation deal (with Turkey), it should be indicated to Israel that is inconceivable to legalise Turkish overflights policies by accepting or receiving jets that have previously violated the air space of another country.”
The latest incident has further strained Cyprus-Israel relations, which are still reeling from the arrest of two alleged Mossad agents on the island, just days after Weizman’s departure.
Israel has not denied the two are Mossad agents, but has said they were not spying for Turkey or against Cyprus. The two men were last week charged with spying, and will go to trial on December 8.
