Turkey urges embargo lift on Turkish Cypriot athletes

By Fatih Erel</p> <p>ISTANBUL (AA) – Turkey's Youth and Sports Minister on Wednesday called on international sports communities to lift embargoes on Turkish Cypriot athletes. </p> <p>Mehmet Muharrem Kasapoglu was visiting Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus to attend 12th meeting of the General Assembly of Sport Council in the capital Lefkosa. </p> <p>In his address to the meeting, Kasapoglu said: &quot;It is extremely unfair to expect the Turkish Cypriots to give up their freedom to become visible in the international sports arena.&quot;</p> <p>The minister also said Turkey strongly condemns the unfair embargoes on Turkish Cypriot athletes and called on international sport communities to lift isolations targeting them.</p> <p>&quot;We, Turkey, continue to support our Turkish Cypriot brothers to have presence in the international sports arena,” he added.</p> <p>Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when a Greek Cypriot coup was followed by violence against the island's Turks and Ankara's intervention as a guarantor power.</p> <p>The status of the island remains unresolved in spite of a series of discussions that resumed in May 2015.

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