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Govt denies reports it’s considering direct flights to Northern Cyprus
The Foreign Office has dismissed reports circulating in Turkish Cypriot media that Boris Johnson is looking into the issue of direct flights to the north of the island.
TAK news agency quoted Turkish Cypriot prime minister Ersin Tatar, who is on a visit to the UK, saying the PM was ‘positive on the issue’.
But the FCO said: "These reports are untrue. The UK’s position on this has not changed.
"Direct flights between the UK and the north of Cyprus would not be in line with the UK’s international obligations."
Ercan (Tymbou) airport in the north of Cyprus is not recognised by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) as an international airport, but Turkish Cypriots have been pushing for a change in policy as the north of the country looks to do more direct trade with the UK, Cyprus Mail reports.
The Cyprus Mail adds Conservatives such as Iain Duncan Smith support ‘the desire of his Turkish Cypriot constituents for direct flights to the north of the island’.
Lisa
Lisa joined Travel Weekly nearly 25 years ago as technology reporter and then sailed around the world for a couple of years as cruise correspondent, before becoming deputy editor. Now freelance, Lisa writes for various print and web publications, edits Corporate Traveller’s client magazine, Gateway, and works on the acclaimed Remembering Wildlife series of photography books, which raise awareness of nature’s most at-risk species and helps to fund their protection.
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