AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR DAMAGES PEACE

The basketball team Pinar Karsiyaka which was attacked at the end of the game with Apoel within the FIBA EuroChallenge(G) Cup match in Greek Cyprus was welcomed by the Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis and State Minister Faruk Nafiz Özak at İzmir Adnan Menderes Airport.

Implying that basketball team Pinar Karsiyaka came up against not only unsportsmanlike act but also inhuman treatment during the statement that Bagis made to journalists at the airport, and he continued as follows:

"Although they know that our young sportsmen will success while we are sending them to international match on behalf of the sporting, the attack at the end of the game is a behavior that should be observed by the international community and also it should be punished. The background of this event should be known. The Turkish Republic condemns this attack severely."

Pointing out that if there was a "mind to attack on sportmen", it was hard to maintain a permanent and fair peace, and Bagis said: "What happened yesterday was verified that 74's pre-conceived notions has still lived severely in island."

Indicating that the behavior of the Greek Cyprus is also damaging the EU and Bagis said "When we see double standards in the EU, it is our natural right to examine the sincerities."

Indicating that they activated instantly after hearing this event, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and all authorities continued their contacts all night long, Bagis said, "We informed all related institutions that the Turkish Republic had followed this issue closely regarding the security of our siblings."

Reminding that although Turkish Cypriot People said 'yes' to Annan Plan by the rate of 67 percent on 24 April 2004, Greek Cypriot People said 'no' by the rate of 76 percent, Bagis said, "They said no to solution and peace. We see that their yesterday's behavior are not different from the 2004 April." Egemen Bagis expressed that all of the world know that Turkey was trying to achieve a comprehensive and permanent solution in Cyprus.

Minister Bagis demanded the videos of the attack from Greek Cypriot televisions delivering them to the world opinion.

Source: AA