Turkish forces harassed military aircraft carrying several EU defence ministers into Cyprus on Sunday evening, including the plane transporting Greek Defence Minister Nikos Dendias, according to reports confirmed by the Presidential Palace.
Aircraft carrying the defence ministers of France and the Netherlands were also intercepted. According to the reports, the “control tower” of the illegal airfield at Tymbou in the occupied north jammed communications with the aircraft.
Two F-16 fighter jets took off from Tymbou and were visible from the government-controlled areas of the island. The two Turkish warplanes shadowed the EU ministers’ aircraft at a distance as they approached Cyprus.
The EU defence ministers are in Cyprus ahead of the informal Foreign Affairs Council (Defence) meeting hosted in Nicosia on Monday as part of the Cyprus EU Council Presidency.
Similar incidents occurred during previous informal meetings of European officials hosted in Cyprus, according to the reports.
Speaking on state radio on Monday morning, Presidential Press Office Director Viktoras Papadopoulos confirmed the incidents, saying Cyprus’s Defence Minister would raise the matter with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas, as well as at the informal EU Defence Ministers’ meeting.
Also beginning contacts in Nicosia on Monday is María Angela Holguín, the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy on Cyprus.
