Cyprus proceeds with closing its airspace to Russian aircraft but with reservation of right to reconsider, pending Turkey's position.
This is stated in a statement issued after the conclusion of the informal teleconference of the Foreign Ministers of the EU member states, in which Ioannis Kasoulides participated.
"The teleconference reviewed the evolving situation in Ukraine and agreed on practical ways for the EU to react and support Ukraine," the statement said.
In particular, the Foreign Ministers agreed, inter alia:
-intensifying efforts to provide humanitarian assistance to Ukraine
-imposing targeted restrictive measures against Russia in the context of the SWIFT programme
-the provision of military equipment to Ukraine
[/P]-the closure of European airspace to Russian aircraft
In his intervention, Mr. Kasoulides, who was in constant communication with the President of the Republic, expressed Cyprus' support for the measures under discussion and informed about our country's actions in relation to the coordination and provision of humanitarian aid.
Cyprus on the closure of airspace
Regarding the closure of European airspace, Cyprus gave its consent, expressing a reservation of the right to reconsider if Turkey refuses by attempting to instrumentalise the decision.
As stated in the relevant statement, "the Foreign Minister noted that our consent is given subject to our right to reconsider and/or review the implementation of this decision, should Turkey refuse to proceed with the closure of its own airspace and proceed with the instrumentalisation of this European decision in order to attract and/or transfer Russian citizens to the occupied territories".
It is noted that President Anastasiades had a telephone conversation with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, on the same issue.
However, it should be noted that Turkey is considering closing the Bosphorus straits for Russian ships, based on the Montreux Treaty as a member of NATO. However, it has not yet revealed its intentions with regard to airspace.
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