STATEMENT BY THE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER AND THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS ASSOC.PROF. TURGAY AVCI

The  football match which was scheduled to be played between Çetinkaya, a well established football club of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and Luton Town, a club playing in England’s Football League One, could not take place due to hideous pressure exerted by the Greek Cypriot side on Luton Town. While we condemn such pressure by the Greek Cypriot side, we would like to underline once again that it is high time for the international community to acknowledge the embargoes and the isolation imposed on the Turkish Cypriot people. As long as the international community does not take the necessary steps towards lifting the inhuman embargoes and the isolation imposed on the Turkish Cypriot side, which has continuously displayed a positive stance in the search for a settlement in Cyprus, the Greek Cypriot side’s utter disrespect for the human rights of the Turkish Cypriot people will continue.

It should be recalled that our fundamental human rights like education and sports were left to the responsibility of the parties under the 1960 constitution of the Republic of Cyprus. The Greek Cypriot side has been utilizing all the benefits of the title of the Republic of Cyprus, which they usurped by the force of arms, against the Turkish Cypriots and it does not see any harm in violating the fundamental human rights of the Turkish Cypriots. The hostility of the Greek Cypriot side resulting in the obstruction of a friendly match to be played by Çetinkaya Sports Club, which is a founding member of the Cyprus Football Federation established in 1934, with a foreign football club, has been deeply regretted by the Turkish Cypriot people.  This and similar acts by the Greek Cypriot side shed light on the position the Greek Cypriot side has adopted with regard to the settlement of the Cyprus issue.

The only way to make the Greek Cypriot side abandon its policy of exploiting even the issues such as education and sports for political ends is to lift the inhuman isolation imposed on the Turkish Cypriot side, as has been demonstrated once again by the recent incident which took place before the international observers. The international community, in line with our rightful expectations, should take the necessary steps it had promised without further delay.

12 July 2007, Lefkoşa.