North confirms American visit to airport to inspect evacuation capability

The north’s ‘transport minister’ Erhan Arikli on Wednesday confirmed that American officials had visited Ercan (Tymbou) airport to inspect its capability for “evacuations” but said that this is standard procedure.

“The American embassy in Cyprus and the American office in northern Cyprus periodically apply to the transport ministry after obtaining permission from our foreign ministry. We then grant the necessary approval for the civil aviation authority. American consular officials then...