National Unity Party (UBP) MP Oğuzhan Hasipoğlu, who attended the Committee meetings of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), raised the issue of sports embargoes imposed on the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) youth at the Culture, Science, Education and Media Committee meeting.
National Unity Party MP Oğuzhan Hasipoğlu, who participated in the Committee meetings of PACE delivered a speech at the Culture, Science, Education and Media Committee meeting.
According to a statement made by the Press Office of the National Unity Party, at the meeting to discuss the impact of the Olympics on the Peace process titled “whether the independence of sports serves the values of sports”, which was rapporteured by Romanian MP Denisa Neagu, the President of the French Olympics Committee Jean Pierre Siutat, who was specially invited, also delivered a presentation.
Hasipoğlu, who spoke after the presentations were completed, drew attention to the importance of the Olympics that will take place in France this year, and underlined that despite the embargo imposed on the Russian state, they are allowing Russian athletes to participate in the Olympics with the Olympic flag.
He said that there are similar examples of this situation in the past as well and therefore called for a new roadmap to be determined for TRNC athletes who are under embargoes.
“Although everyone present at this committee meeting agrees that politics should not be mixed with sports, I request you do not remain silent regarding the unjust restrictions imposed on the Turkish Cypriot people, especially the youth” said Hasipoğlu.
“It has been 20 years since the Annan Plan referendum. We want the promises made to us to be kept and the embargoes to be lifted. Despite the statements made by the UN and European Union member states that the people who voted ‘yes’ to the referendum at that time would be rewarded and the isolation would be lifted, it is clear that the EU has applied double standards. Through this committee, we call on the Council to keep the promises made and to open the way for Turkish Cypriot youth to participate in the Olympics in accordance with the Olympic rules” Hasipoğlu said.
Responding to Hasipoğlu, who asked the President of the French Olympics Committee what remedies he would suggest to the Turkish Cypriot youth, Siutat said that he was also the President of the French Basketball Federation and that currently serious discussions were taking place in order to pave the way for unrecognized countries or countries that have been unjustly treated to participate in international tournaments and that they are well aware of the Cyprus issue and that they can also include this issue on their agenda.
Hasipoğlu stated that they will continue to address the situation of the Turkish Cypriot youth on every platform, reiterating his call to the International Olympic Committee that they should emphasize sports, not politics, and stated that they will also take an initiative on Basketball.
Stating that Turkish Cypriot athletes are excited to take part in international competitions and tournaments, Hasipoğlu said they will do their best to open this door to athletes and that their initiatives in this direction will continue on different platforms including the Council of Europe and the European Parliament.