AIRCRAFT CARRYING THE French, Dutch and Greek defence ministers were targeted as they arrived in Cyprus for an EU defence ministers meeting, security sources told The Journal.

Cyprus holds the president of the Council of the European Union.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin, speaking to The Journal today, said he is satisfied with Irish security measures to combat similar incidents for Ireland’s EU Presidency which begins in July. 

Sources familiar with the incident said that there was interference with the aircraft communications.

The news website Politco also reported that a Cypriot spokesman said that the aircraft was also tracked by Turkish fighter aircraft. Turkey has denied the incident happened. 

It is the latest security incident associated with Cyprus’ presidency as other meetings were cancelled due to drone and ballistic missile threat from Iran and Hezbollah militants. 

Cyprus and Turkey do not have diplomatic relations due to the Turkish invasion of the island in 1974 in response to a Greek backed coup.  

France and Cyprus are due to sign a new defence pact agreement which would enable France to post troops on the island. 

Concerns about Ireland’s ability to secure the EU Presidency events which begin in July have been raised across the European Union.

In Cork this morning Taoiseach Micheál Martin said he was not aware of the incident in Cyprus but said that Irish intelligence services, both in An Garda Síochána and the military, were in touch with countries across Europe to assess threats. 

“We share knowledge, experiences and any potential challenges that may come our way. 

“We have very resilient and robust plans in place to deal with scenarios of that kind. At the more recent meetings I have been at there haven’t been any significant issues. 

“I was at the EPC [European Political Community] meeting in Armenia and that went off without any hitch or concerns and likewise at the informals in Cyprus and elsewhere. Our gardaí have put a lot into this and our Defence Forces also,” he said.