Regulations and practices are in force as regards the entry to the Republic of Cyprus territory and these are implemented, a source has told the Cyprus News Agency (CNA) invited to comment on statements by the “foreign minister” of the Turkish Cypriot puppet regime in the Turkish occupied part of Cyprus, Kudret Ozersay, who said that a foreign academic who arrived to Larnaca Airport with a view to attend an academic activity at a “university” in the occupied areas was denied entry by the authorities, and was sent back to Dubai.

The same source noted, moreover, that those affected in such cases can lodge a complaint, question the decision of the authorities and ask for further explanations or even resort to justice, noting that they are informed about their rights through a document handed over to them.

It said that it does not wish to make a comment as regards this case, adding that there are regulations which are implemented by the competent authorities of the Republic. Moreover, it recalled that there have been similar cases in the past, that were published by the media, adding that “we do not comment every case separately”.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37% of its territory.