Turkish Cypriot premier condemns bid to block Barcelona camp

TRNC Prime Minister Unal Ustel on Monday condemned attempts by the far-right National Popular Front (ELAM) to obstruct a Barcelona youth football training camp scheduled for Sept. 11 in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, accusing the Greek Cypriot party of seeking to isolate Turkish Cypriots from international sporting and cultural engagement.

ELAM pressures Spain over planned camp

Barcelona announced on its official website that the training camp for young players is scheduled to be held in the TRNC on Sept. 11. The far-right ELAM party subsequently called on the Greek Cypriot administration's Foreign Ministry to pressure Spain into preventing the event, according to Turkish Cypriot officials. The party has also demanded diplomatic pressure on countries of artists expected to participate in the Zamna Music Festival in an effort to block international attendance.

'True intentions' behind isolation efforts

In a written statement, Ustel strongly condemned ELAM's efforts targeting both the Barcelona camp and the Zamna Music Festival, saying the initiatives revealed the "true intentions" of certain circles in the Greek Cypriot administration disturbed by Turkish Cypriots establishing global contact. "There is no longer a society before them that they expect to remain isolated," he said. "There is a Turkish Cypriot people who embrace their state, look to the future with confidence and have the determination to strengthen their ties with the world."

Nexus Festival cancellation precedent

Ustel said the obstruction efforts reflected what he described as the unchanged attitude of Greek Cypriot politics toward the Turkish Cypriot people, recalling that the Nexus Festival was canceled following pressure from the Greek Cypriot side on the Serbian government. Serbian music organization EXIT, which had announced its participation in the September festival near Kyrenia Castle, was forced to withdraw following diplomatic initiatives by the Greek Cypriot administration. "We did not submit to this mentality yesterday, and we will not submit to it today," Ustel said, adding that Turkish Cypriot youth will meet young people from all over the world, take part in sports, and share their art and culture.