Arıklı: Kosovo Model Should Be Applied to Overcome Sports Embargo on TRNC
Minister of Public Works and Transportation, Erhan Arıklı, suggested that the sports embargo imposed on Turkish Cypriot youth could be overcome by adopting the "Kosovo Model."
Speaking at an award ceremony organized by the National Olympic Committee, Arıklı emphasized the importance of the Olympic spirit in promoting peace, friendship, and fair competition, calling for sports to be free from political interference.
Arıklı criticized the longstanding isolation imposed on Turkish Cypriots, stating, “The sports embargo preventing Turkish Cypriot youth from participating in competitions is unacceptable." He highlighted Kosovo’s success, noting, “Kosovo is not a member of the United Nations, yet it is recognized by 120 countries and participates in international sports events.” He attributed Kosovo’s progress to the report by UN Special Envoy Martti Ahtisaari, who concluded that Kosovo and Serbia could not coexist.
Drawing a parallel, Arıklı pointed out that UN Secretary-General António Guterres recently indicated a lack of common ground between the Cypriot leaders. He argued that this statement mirrors Ahtisaari’s findings on Kosovo, stating, "The removal of this degrading sports embargo should be a precondition in confidence-building discussions for the Turkish Cypriot youth."
Comments
Attention!
Sending all kinds of financial, legal, criminal, administrative responsibility content arising from illegal, threatening, disturbing, insulting and abusive, humiliating, humiliating, vulgar, obscene, immoral, damaging personal rights or similar content. It belongs to the Member / Members.