Turkey urges embargo lift on Turkish Cypriot athletes

By Fatih Erel

ISTANBUL (AA) - Turkey's Youth and Sports Minister on Wednesday called on international sports communities to lift embargoes on Turkish Cypriot athletes.

Mehmet Muharrem Kasapoglu was visiting Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus to attend 12th meeting of the General Assembly of Sport Council in the capital Lefkosa.

In his address to the meeting, Kasapoglu said: "It is extremely unfair to expect the Turkish Cypriots to give up their freedom to become visible in the international sports arena."

The minister also said Turkey strongly condemns the unfair embargoes on Turkish Cypriot athletes and called on international sport communities to lift isolations targeting them.

"We, Turkey, continue to support our Turkish Cypriot brothers to have presence in the international sports arena,” he added.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when a Greek Cypriot coup was followed by violence against the island's Turks and Ankara's intervention as a guarantor power.

The status of the island remains unresolved in spite of a series of discussions that resumed in May 2015.