Turkish Cypriot FM Rejects Greek Cypriot Control Of Air Traffic Over Mid-east, South Mediterranean

LEFKOSA - Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Foreign Minister Turgay Avci rejected Wednesday recent news reports that a European air navigation organization would establish an aviation control center in Greek Cypriot sector to monitor all civil and military aviation points in the Middle East and south of the Mediterranean.
"The construction work at a new air traffic control center in Larnaca is only part of the renewal efforts of the current compound and lacks any financial aid from Eurocontrol," Avci said in a written statement.
Eurocontrol, an acronym for the European Organization for the Safety of Air Navigation, is an international organization whose primary objective is the development of a pan-European air traffic management system.
Eurocontrol has 37 members and Turkey joined the organization in 1989.
"Greek Cypriot administration has no right to enforce such regulatory measures on behalf of the entire island where its sovereignty only prevails on the south," Avci added.