SAMSUN
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus's (TRNC) Minister of Public Works and Transportation Hamza Ersan Saner has said that TRNC had been controlling its air space.
Saner's remarks came after an Israeli jet violated Turkish Cypriot air space on May 14, 2012.
Talking to the AA correspondent in the northern province of Samsun, Saner said that TRNC was a sovereign state that had its own air space.
"In Cyprus, there is no single air space as Greek Cypriot administration claims. In the north there is one separate air space while another separate one is in the south. Furthermore, TRNC's equipments and modernization in civil aviation are better than Greek Cypriots' equipments. Our investments had been made with the cooperation of motherland Turkey," said Saner.
Recalling violation of Turkish air space by Israeli jet on Monday, "These incidents have been taken under records. We have made contact with motherland Turkey. We have been controlling our air space, and we would make any provision to protect our air space," said Saner.
Upon a question about oil exploration of Greek Cypriots, Saner said that two nations had common benefits in Cyprus. "Turkish Foreign Ministry and TRNC's Foreign Ministry have been working and offering solutions together over this topic," said Saner.
On May 14, an Israeli jet had violated Turkish Cypriot air space.
Turkey had asked for explanation from Israel over violation of Turkish Cypriot air space.
The TRNC Presidency had warned Israel by speaking with their ambassador in the Greek Cypriot administration, Michael Hariri.
(Reporting by Mustafa Onal/Omer Ersoy)
