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Ραδιοφωνικο ιδρυμα Κυπρου

Ελληνικη Ραδιοφωνια τηλεοραση

PRESIDENT DEMETRIS CHRISTOFIAS

Nicosia, (CNA) -- President of the Republic of Cyprus Demetris Christofias has pledged that the government will do its utmost to uproot fascism, using all legal means.

President Christofias was commenting on an attack by fans of a local Greek Cypriot team APOEL against Turkish team Pinar Karsiyaka after an international men’s basketball match in Nicosia.

In statements on the sidelines of the inauguration ceremony of the Kofinou Health Center, the Cypriot President said that Turkey’s military occupies part of Cyprus’ territory but, as he stressed “in order to solve the Cyprus problem, we must talk with Turkey and establish relations with Ankara, even if this may appear odd to some super-patriots”.

He stressed that such incidents show that fascism is deeply rooted in the souls of some people and pledged that the government will apply with every legal means to uproot it.

The Cypriot Pre-sident was also invited to comment on statements made by the technical leader of the Turkish basketball team ''Pinar Karsiyaka'', Selim Cinar, who said ''we should not connect the events with differences between the two sides, this has to do with a sports event and sometimes these things take place during sports events''.

“The representative of the Turkish basketball team has acted as a sports official, knowing that such incidents happen, but this is not an alibi for any brainless person, who thinks that by beating or trying to beat a basketball player, he is hitting Turkey”, he underlined.

“We are shooting ourselves in the foot by such behaviour and we have to understand that and we also have to understand that sport is sport,”.

Turkey, whose troops occupy Cyprus’ northern part since they invaded in 1974, does not recognise the Republic of Cyprus. Ankara has protested to various international forums about the attack. The government of Cyprus and the island’s political leadership have condemned the attack on Turkish athletes.

President Christofias is engaged in peace talks with the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community to find a negotiated settlement to reunite the country under a federal roof.

The Cyprus
 News Agency


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