Cyprus-Forum.com

[cadaunovera]

Cyprus is making an official complaint to motor sport's world governing body over what it calls a political "trick" at the Turkish Grand Prix.
The Turkish Cypriot leader, Mehmet Ali Talat, presented the Formula One trophy at the televised event in Istanbul.

However, he was introduced as president of the Turkish Cypriot "state" - which is only recognised by Turkey.

Cyprus has been split since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded the north of the island after a Greek-inspired coup.

"The Cypriot government will denounce this unacceptable and provocative piece of theatre," Cyprus government spokesman Christodoulos Pashardis told reporters after the Grand Prix award ceremony.

He accused Turkish officials of exploiting a sporting event and "tricking" the organising body, the International Motoring Federation (FIA).

"Mr Talat is neither a citizen nor an official of Turkey, the organising country, to be invited to present the Formula One winner's trophy," he stated.

He also said the Cypriot Automobile Association would lodge a follow-up complaint.

The event was watched by Greek Cypriots live on state television and by an estimated 2.5 billion people around the world.

bbc.com

[MarsdenCuckoo]

Yavas yavas or rather siga siga!

Christine

[Piratis]

Just the usual lame attempts of Turkey to promote their puppet state. It is a pity they turned an international event into another of their usual muppet shows.

[souroul]

thats rather pathetic. nothing new here

[EUropean666]

let's see Formula's body reply.If they want to go according to the book..then turkey will be in trouble

[Issy1956]

Grow up guys. What does it matter? What we need is a bit of tolerance and perspective here. I didnt see it or know how he was presented but would you have got so upset if he was presented as the elected leader of the TC community currently excluded from taking his lawful place in the Republic of Cyprus government by his GC compatriots.

[EUropean666]

F1 organising committee seems piss off. it will issue a warn against turkey and probably some measures.

[Kifeas]

Grow up guys. What does it matter? What we need is a bit of tolerance and perspective here. I didnt see it or know how he was presented but would you have got so upset if he was presented as the elected leader of the TC community currently excluded from taking his lawful place in the Republic of Cyprus government by his GC compatriots.

How is he excluded?

As far as I know -at least since 1974, the TC community is self excluded from the RoC because it continues to want to go its own way as a separate "nation /state" entity under the "TRNC" banner, contrary to all the UN resolutions and international law and human rights provisions!

Did Mr. Talat, as the reprehensive of the TC community, come to the RoC or to the UN organisation and declared that he recognises the RoC as the only sovereign entity of the whole of Cyprus, and subsequently denounce and proclaim the establishment of the "TRNC" as an invalid entity on the grounds and territories of the sovereign RoC, denounce the Turkish occupation of part of the territory of the RoC, denounce the prohibition by the Turkish troops of the return of the GC refugees back to their homes and properties, denounce and demand the repatriation of illegally transferred Turkish settlers in Cyprus after 1974, and declare that he and his community wish to negotiate the return under the institutions of the RoC, as per the 1964 UN SC resolution; and the RoC or the GC community refused or objected it? No, he never made such a move!

How is he and his community supposed to return and take their place under the RoC? By maintaining and running the “TRNC” in the north and supporting and defending the Turkish occupation and its fait accomplices in the north at the same time? The two cannot exist at the same time.

[alexISS]

It's about time...

http://www.fia.com/mediacentre/Press_Re ... 06-02.html

[Issy1956]

Kifeas,
What I was trying to get at is that Talat is the elected representative of the TC community and it is in that capacity that he was there. I am not going to go over all the old ground with wrt to status of the ROC and TRNC-we have been there and done that in many other threads -its futile. Suffice it to say that for me and many other TC's the ROC is not our government and we do not have a stake in it. In its present form it does not and will never speak for us or represent us and as such its yours and yours alone. Please dont bore me with statements about passports and free healthcare.
So the notion that in the absence of an overall comprehensive settlement in which the TC community and its representatives can play a role in a "United Cyprus" government Talat or whoever is the representatives of the TC's at the time will come and recognise you as the sole legitimate government of the whole island is pure fantasy and will never happen. This point is at the heart of the problem. Until you recognise that you have no god given right to represent the TC community we will never reach a settlement.
We have failed to reach a settlement since 64 and I truly believe that this is a consequence of the intransiegence of both sides in this conflict. The GC and TC's are both as stubborn as a pair of old mules who will never compromise enough to reach a settlemnt. It is a pity but there it is.