Cyprus-Forum.com

[fsturbo15]

An Austrian military airplane bound for Larnaca to pick up evacuees from Lebanon was not allowed into Turkish airspace and was obliged to follow a longer flight plan, an Austrian newspaper reported yesterday.

The Kronen Zeitung described the move as a "new, scandalous behaviour of the EU candidate country". It reported the story under the headline "Turkey obstructs rescue flight – It closed its airspace to an aircraft of the federal army."

The paper quoted EU diplomatic sources as saying Turkey’s refusal to allow the flight was directly linked to EU policy towards Cyprus.

"According to Ankara’s policy, flights from and to Cyprus are not allowed through Turkey’s airspace. Apparently this also applies to humanitarian operations, as was Monday’s rescue of refugees from the war zone," the Austrian newspaper said.

It said that Austria’s military attachE in Ankara asked the Turkish government to allow a Hercules transport airplane to fly over its airspace, stressing that the flight was intended to transport refugees who had left the conflict in Lebanon and travelled by ship to Cyprus.

The Turkish government rejected the request on Monday, and a second similar request on Tuesday. The Hercules was obliged to follow a longer route home.

[Natty]

Oh dear.....

[fener]

I can't see how this is such a big deal, surely there are more important things to worry about

[fener]

besides, this isnt so much malicious as consistent, sticking to one's principles, whether you agree with them or not fsturbo15 or natty. As for the problem in lebanon, turkey is actually doing just as much for the refugees as cyprus, if not more - go do a little research for once

[Natty]

Hey Fener, and welcome .I understand what your saying, I have heard that some refugess have gone to Turkey, although those refugees (In the article above) should have been allowed to pass...

[fener]

perhaps, maybe i overreacted. i just mean to point out that sometimes when turkey does something that appears vindictive and erratic, barbaric even, there can be a logic to it and one that might not be as contemptible as initially thought. whether you agree with turkish views or not, you must see that there is a big difference between the two stances, and the difference ends up being that between greeks demonising turks as barbarians and mortal enemies or greeks seeing turks as people whose country opposes their interests on more rational (tho, as with all politics, largely self-serving) grounds. it is the difference between solution and no solution and for the time being, to express my own opinion, i doubt theres enough goodwill, or will be enough goodwill for any putative solution. for example, the issue of opening trade to south cyprus is a matter of recognition, not vindictiveness, etc etc, although im sure most are aware of this. believe it or not, turks arent actually that hateful or bothered towards greece and greeks, and im not being malicious when i say this

[fener]

Oh, and thank you for your welcome, im glad to be here. where are my manners!

[Natty]

Hey Fener, no problem!! You seem to have very good manners to me! I completely agree, I suppose Turkey is sticking to it's policy, which is probably what the Republic of CY would do, I suppose it's just because those people who weren't allowed to pass were refugees who were trying to get out as soon as possible....You know?

I think for GC's, especially those who originate from the North, there's still resentmant for what happened in 1974, although time I believe is helping to heal the wounds, and I also believe that 99.9% of GC's want a fair and just re-unification soultion for all Cypriots!

Peace!

[cypezokyli]

cyprus problem will always be more important than humanitarian causes.
we also did sth similar

[miltiades]

Both Cyprus and Turkey missed a golden opportunity in the propaganda stakes .Had Cyprus or Turkey declared the "freezing " of politically influenced positions , and stated that in the name of Humanitarian aid they would allow each others vessels etc to "violate " their principles". I'm surprised at Turkey , the more politically astute not to have grasped the opportunity of scoring a golden propaganda goal.