Absence of direct flights to the TRNC is unacceptable - Ersin Tatar

TRNC president Ersin Tatar has called the absence of direct flights as unacceptable as it has existed as a state for the past 37 years.

Tatar was speaking at a symposium organised by the Akdeniz Karpaz University on Monday to mark International Civil Aviation Day when he pointed out that all flights to and from the TRNC were carried out via Turkey. 

Despite all the restrictions and embargoes, we are able to fly to all parts of the world as a result of the support given by motherland Turkey, he said, adding that the restrictions imposed by international aviation authorities were a violation of human rights.

Describing the flight restrictions as unfair, Tatar said that international aviation authorities should not bow to pressure from the Greek Cypriot side and should allow direct flights to and from the TRNC. 

He explained that the international authorities sympathized with the Turkish Cypriot side’s plight but gave the response that their hands were tied as the issue was political. 

Tatar said that he had also conveyed this issue to the Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades who in response had told him that such a move would imply recognition and upgrade of the status of the TRNC. 

We have commercial ties with and students who study here from over a hundred countries. We have a state which is 37-years-old and the absence of direct flight, he said.