Cyprus has refused to grant Israeli pilots permission to train in its airspace because a military airbase is being built near the airport Israel wanted to use.
The refusal comes against the background of an agreement between Israel and Turkey allowing Israeli pilots to use Turkish airspace to fly training missions.
A Cypriot official said this week that three Israeli requests to use Paphos Airport in 1996 were turned down.
Israeli pilots used the facilities twice last year.
A Cypriot government spokesman said the three Israeli applications were turned down because work had begun on an airbase, to be located near the small civilian Paphos Airport on the western coast, as part of a 1993 defense accord with Greece.
Under the accord, Greece will provide air and naval support for Cyprus in the event of renewed hostilities with Turkey, which has occupied the northern third of the island since 1974.
Cyprus is meanwhile seeking clarifications from Israel regarding its agreement with Turkey.
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