‘No embargo prevents direct flights to Ercan’

I READ with interest the article about “direct” flights (Cyprus Today, March 31).

Last year I tried to raise a petition for the UK government to lift the embargo and allow direct flights to Ercan. First I had to wait for the Petitions Committee to be re-established following the general election. I then had to get sponsors to support my submission to the committee — five, from memory. This I did relatively easily.

I was then approved to submit my application to raise a petition. I did this, writing some background to the TRNC etc. I was surprised when my submission was rejected. I could not start a petition!

The reason given was that there was “no embargo that prevented direct flights to Ercan”. I could not believe it. I spoke to an old school friend whose career was in air traffic control who proposed the following, which makes sense. He suggested that as the TRNC and hence Ercan are not internationally recognised, as far as international travel is concerned flight plans cannot be made or accepted to Ercan. Ercan is just not on the map! It does not exist! The only solution would appear to be to get the TRNC internationally recognised. There are probably only two routes to this. One is to submit to Greek rule of the island. The other would to be formally accepted as a part of Turkey, albeit with devolved government. I know which option I would prefer.

David Woodley Ozanköy