Qatar fighter jets make Cyprus emergency landing for fuel

Two of Qatar’s air force Mirage fighter jets and one transport plane, while in flight, requested permission to land and refuel at Larnaca airport.

Permission was refused by Cypriot authorities. Subsequently, permission was requested and granted for an emergency landing due to lack of fuel.

Three airplanes landed at Larnaca airport: two Mirage fighters and one transport plane.

The aircraft will depart as soon as they refuel.

Statement by the Cypriot Government Spokesman on British bases

“Cyprus, because of its political and other problems due to the Turkish occupation and the relations that the Republic of Cyprus maintains with other countries of the region, does not wish to be involved in any way in the military operations in Libya”, the Government Spokesman Stefanos Stefanou stated yesterday.

In statements to the press at the Presidential Palace and invited to say whether the British Bases will be used for military operations against Libya and whether the Government has made deliberations with the British, Mr Stefanou said: “we have been informed by the British that the British Bases have been used so far to provide auxiliary services, and this is what we know so far. From then on, as the   

President of the Republic stated yesterday, we have conveyed the wish of the Republic of Cyprus to keep Cyprus outside any military operations for many and various reasons. It is known that Cyprus, because of its political and other problems due to the Turkish occupation and the relations that the Republic of Cyprus maintains with other countries of the region, does not wish to be involved in any way in the military operations which are currently under way. ”

Asked whether the Government will make representations to avert such an intention  by the British, Stefanou said: “Britain has not said that the Bases will be used for lauching military operations and for bombarding. As the President of the Republic said yesterday, this issue has to do with the military British Bases, which are governed by a specific status prescribed in the Treaty of Establishment. This Treaty envisages that the Republic of Cyprus will be informed regarding the use of the Bases,” the Government Spokesman concluded.