Filenews 21 September 2021 - by Michalis Hadjivasilis
United Nations experts, who come in early November, will open the aircraft sealed in a warehouse at Paphos airport. It is estimated that it was carrying weapons to Libya.
The case that was revealed only recently, goes back to 2019 when this particular aircraft, of Serbian interests, came with an urgent signal to Larnaka airport. The flight plan was Jordan – Libya, but due to information and the war situation, it landed urgently in Larnaca. A few hours later and after an agreement of the company with a private person who maintains a hangar/warehouse, the plane flew to Paphos airport where it remained until its presence was revealed in a United Nations document.
A month ago, the Police were informed of the existence of the aircraft and were asked to guard it 24 hours a day, until the United Nations experts came to Cyprus to inspect it. The Cyprus Police was also asked to assist in the efforts of the experts when they arrive in Cyprus, so that the aircraft can be inspected unhindered.
The existence of the aircraft was known to the Civil Aviation and even yesterday a representative of it referred to weapons intended for a specific situation in Libya, that it seems never reached the devastated country.
The question that arises is whether the aircraft – which is registered with a private company and was judged by a report of a United Nations Sanctions Committee to have a dangerous flight plan – has kept intact any of its contents, for so many months that it has been unattended. It is also unknown what the foreign experts who will inspect it will find, however, the travel documents as well as the activities while it was in the warehouse will be available to show who was visiting it and why.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which also has contacts with the United Nations, is also informed about the case, while the Civil Aviation Authority also has a file on this aircraft.
It is noted that according to a security council resolution, an embargo had been imposed on Libyan military equipment and warned with sanctions.
