Üstel: “How can we build trust with such an approach?”

Prime Minister Ünal Üstel has condemned the Greek Cypriot side’s efforts to prevent the FC Barcelona Academy from organising a training camp in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), as well as its objections to the inclusion of three TRNC universities in the QS World University Rankings under the designation “Lefkoşa, Northern Cyprus.”

“How can we build trust with a mindset that targets our children in sports and our universities in education?” Üstel asked, stressing that it would not be possible to reach an agreement with such an approach.

According to a statement issued by the Directorate of Press and Public Relations of the Prime Ministry, Üstel said efforts had been made at the international level to prevent the Barcelona Academy from meeting with children and young people in the TRNC, while objections had also been raised to the international listing of Eastern Mediterranean University, Near East University and European University of Lefke under the designation “Lefkoşa, Northern Cyprus.”

Üstel further noted that the far-right ELAM party in the Greek Cypriot side had called for the removal of TRNC universities from the rankings, arguing that “there is no such place as Northern Cyprus,”. He said the party also called on the Greek Cypriot Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Education to take action on the matter.