Ustel criticises efforts linked to cancellation of Barcelona football camp

Nicosia, Cyprus. Turkish Cypriot ‘prime minister’ Unal Ustel criticised efforts by Greek Cypriot political and sporting bodies to cancel a planned FC Barcelona football camp in the north, highlighting Elam’s role in its eventual cancellation.

He said the camp was a sporting event for Turkish Cypriot children and did not involve political activity or an attempt at recognition.

Cancellation of football camp

Ustel said the Greek Cypriot football association had acted through Uefa and the Spanish football federation, while the Greek Cypriot administration had made diplomatic efforts regarding the camp.

He said Elam had openly sought the camp’s cancellation and later declared that it had achieved its objective after the event was cancelled.

“We are facing a new and extremely striking example of the Greek Cypriot administration’s intolerance towards the Turkish Cypriot people,” he said.

“There was no political activity involved. There was no attempt at recognition. It was a sporting event where Turkish Cypriot children would meet the academy of a world-renowned football club,” he added.

Claims of isolation

Ustel questioned whether the aim was to prevent Turkish Cypriot children from playing football and to stop artists, athletes and students from coming to the north.

He said the actions amounted to a policy of isolating the Turkish Cypriot community and hindering its economic and social development.

“On the one hand, you talk about building trust with the Turkish Cypriot people, about a solution and cooperation, but on the other, you will even exert diplomatic pressure to prevent a children’s football camp from taking place,” he said.

“This is not about building trust. This is about a policy of keeping the Turkish Cypriot people in isolation,” he added.

Other issues cited

Ustel also referred to recent Elam statements seeking the exclusion of Turkish Cypriot universities from global rankings, as well as the Republic of Cyprus’ complaint to United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres over an agreement between Turkey and Turkish Cypriot authorities to build a natural gas pipeline between the island and Turkey.

He said these developments reflected what he described as a systematic approach to prevent Turkish Cypriots from connecting with the world, developing economically, achieving international university recognition and participating in sporting events.