Under a UN special envoy, Alexander Downer, the Greek-Cypriot president (Demetris Christofias) and his Turkish-Cypriot counterpart (Dervish Eroglu since March 2010), have held 100 meetings since September 2008.

ECONOMIST: The insoluble Cyprus problem

It said it was the first such operation in the area - between the city of Aleppo and the Syrian-Turkish border - since the revolt against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime began in March 2011.

BBC: UN aid reaches Syria rebel-held northern area of Azaz

Throughout the initial months of the demonstrations in Syria, which began in March 2011, the Turkish government hoped and tried to persuade al-Assad's regime to allow a peaceful transition to democracy.

CNN: Is Turkey moving toward 'hard power' over Syria?

But the crash of a Turkish Airlines' DC-10 10 minutes after take-off from Paris in March 1974 put the cargo door problems in a whole new light.

BBC: Dreamliner trouble: A brief history of airliner problems