Incidents of “harassment” targeting planes carrying Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias, as well as his French and Dutch counterparts, who were traveling to Cyprus, occurred on Sunday evening, according to local sources.
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More precisely, the control tower of Ercan Airport, the main airport of Northern Cyprus, whose status is not recognized by the international community, made contact and attempted to direct the government planes of the three ministers of the EU member states.
Still according to local sources, the aircraft have also been the subject of visual intimidation, with the takeoff of two of the F-16s that Turkey has deployed in Cyprus since March.
The Turkish F-16s did not approach the planes, but, as Greek public television (ERT) points out, “the simple fact that they took off and were at a great distance when the Greek Minister of Defense and two of his counterparts were landing for the informal council of European Defense Ministers which is to be held this Monday, June 8 in Nicosia, is unprecedented”.
A similar incident has already occurred in the past and, according to diplomatic sources, through this process, considered very dangerous for the security of air traffic, the Turkish side is seeking to confer a form of legitimacy on the “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus”which, by virtue of several United Nations resolutions, is not recognized by any state in the world, with the exception of Turkey.
