THE BRITISH High Court of Justice’s decision to reject a request to allow flights between Britain and the occupied airport of Tymvos was yesterday met with a chorus of approval by Cypriot politicians and diplomats.
The Court’s Queen Bench Division decided to reject the request, which was submitted by Turkish Cypriot Airlines in co-operation with British travel agency CTA Holidays Ltd.
The ruling was described as “especially significant” by the Legal Services, which yesterday announced that for the first time ever, the Treaty of Chicago regarding the Cyprus Republic’s sovereignty had been interpreted by a court.
“We need to note with satisfaction the extremely positive findings of the British Court and especially the fact that it ruled that the Cyprus Republic enjoys exclusive sovereignty on the entire land and surrounding sea and air space, independent of whether or not it exercises exclusive control over them,” said the Services.
Communications Minister Nicos Nicolaides expressed his “absolute satisfaction” with the ruling.
“This is an extremely important decision by the British High Court of Justice; it effectively creates the preconditions to cease the illegal flights of Tymbou Airport.”
He said such decisions vindicated Cyprus and made it clear that any kind of occupation could not impose on the people’s and country’s rights.
“We feel that this ruling will contribute to the Cypriot people’s fight to restore legality and their rights,” said Nicolaides.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Markos Kyprianou was yesterday asked to comment on an announcement by the British Foreign Office following the ruling, calling for support towards efforts of ending the isolation of the Turkish Cypriot community.
“The so-called isolation of the Turkish Cypriots will end when the Turkish occupation ends and the Cyprus problem is solved; this is where our efforts need to be centred and not any other initiative in between,” said Kyprianou.
“We are the first to support the Turkish Cypriot community, but any moves need to be made within the framework of international and European justice,” he added.
Commenting on the High Court decision, Kyprianou said it was a legal decision, whereby international treaties have been implemented; “and this is something that the Turkish side needs to understand. International justice binds all countries and especially the member states of the EU.”
