Turkish Cyprus slams efforts to block int’l events
Turkish Cypriot officials on Aug. 25 criticized efforts by Greek Cypriots to prevent international events from being held in the island’s north, saying such moves sought to restrict Turkish Cypriots’ engagement with the international community.
Tensions over the issue first emerged after the NEXUS international music festival was canceled following efforts by Greek Cypriot activists to block the event.
A separate music festival scheduled for October, as well as a football camp by Barcelona’s youth academy planned to take place in Turkish Cyprus, have also drawn opposition from the Greek Cypriot side.
The far-right Greek Cypriot party ELAM called for both events to be canceled, arguing that it was “unthinkable” for a major football academy operating in an European Union member state to hold a sporting event in what it described as the “occupied territories.”
