INTRODUCTION

This AIC is published for the benefit of companies intending to operate into two unauthorized airports situated in the northern area of Cyprus, which is illegally occupied by the Armed Forces of the Republic of Turkey.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

In the 1974 Turkey invaded the island of Cyprus, in violation of International Law, the United Nations Charter and the 1960 Treaties of Establishment and Guarantee of the Republic of Cyprus. As a result 34,85% of the territory of Cyprus is under Turkish military occupation and control. A subordinate local administration has been set up by Turkey in this occupied area, the so-called “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus”, the proclamation of which has been declared by United Nations Security as illegal and invalid, and which also called upon the international community to refrain from recognizing, facilitating or in any way assisting it. Accordingly, no state other than Turkey recognizes this nullity. Turkey has, on numerous occasions, been condemned by the international community through, amongst others, the adoption of United Nations resolutions and international court judgments for the continued occupation of the northern part of the island.

ICAO policy on matters relating to Cyprus is in conformity with that of the United Nations and the international community. Consequently, ICAO recognizes only the Republic of Cyprus and its Government as the sole representative of the whole island.

LEGAL STATUS OF THE AIRPORTS IN THE OCCUPIED AREAS

Turkey has established two airports in the occupied areas. These airports are using the designation LCEN and LCGK. These codes have not been assigned by ICAO and therefore are not listed in the pertinent ICAO Document (ICAO Doc.7910/102-Location Indicators).The use of these codes is therefore in violation of ICAO procedures and Turkey is in breach of the Chicago Convention to which it is a signatory.

The above-mentioned airports are operating in the sovereign territory of the Republic of Cyprus without authorisation by the appropriate authority of Cyprus, the Director of Civil Aviation. As a consequence, these airports, located in the occupied northern area of Cyprus, are illegal and as such they should be ignored by the international air navigation and civil aviation community.

At these airports, the entry, clearance, immigration, customs, quarantine regulations, aviation security and conditions for passengers, mail and cargo, as required by the Republic of Cyprus and described in the Cyprus AIP, are not observed. Additionally, these airports are not subject to inspection by the appropriate agencies responsible for safety oversight at airports in Cyprus.

The attention of all States and operators is drawn to the fact that any flight to or from the above-mentioned airports is operating without the permission or authorisation of the appropriate authority and is in violation of the laws and regulation of the Republic of Cyprus.