The new Turkish Navtex is illegal, says government spokesman

The new Navtex issued by Turkey is illegal, government spokesperson Constantinos Letymbiotis said on Monday, adding that the national airspace, Flight Information Region (FIR) and maritime area come under the jurisdiction of the authorities of the Republic of Cyprus.

Asked to comment on the new Turkish Navtex where for the first time Ankara has reserved areas for illegal exercises very close to the Famagusta coast, the spokesperson told CNA: “This Navtex is illegal just like the previous ones.”

He said instructions had been given by the foreign ministry to submit complaints to the relevant international organisations.

Letymbiotis also said that the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre issued an anti-Navtex informing international bodies that Turkey’s exercise “is illegal and constitutes a violation of the territory of the Republic of Cyprus, international law and maritime security procedures.”

CNA sources said that usually the areas reserved by Turkey for the conduct of this annual exercise are in the open sea.

However, for the first time this year the areas under the Navtex “reach the coast of occupied Famagusta”, it reported.