Üstel Slams Calls To Remove TRNC Flag From Besparmak Mountains As “Unacceptable”

In a written statement, Ustel said the recent rhetoric and actions in the Greek Cypriot administration showed that a hostile mentality toward the Turkish Cypriot people “still exists and is increasingly intensifying.”

Referring to reports in Fileleftheros, which he described as being close to Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides, Ustel said calls made under the guise of “confidence-building measures” to remove the “glorious flag” from the Besparmak Mountains were “beyond the limits and unacceptable.”

“Our flag, which symbolizes the Turkish Cypriot people’s will for independence, is not open to discussion, and any demand for its removal is null and void for us,” he said.

Ustel also criticized the decision to rename Kemal Atatürk Street in Paphos, calling it “another hostile act” by the Greek Cypriot side.

He said attempts to remove the name of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder of the Republic of Turkey and a figure “the Turkish Cypriot people are proud to follow,” revealed the “true mentality” of the Greek Cypriot side.

“The Turkish Cypriot people will continue to stand by their values, flag, state and ties with motherland Turkey, just as they have in the past,” Ustel said.

He added that Turkish Cypriots had always respected the religious values, flag and sacred symbols of the Greek Cypriot community and expected the same respect in return.

According to Ustel, such demands made under the label of “confidence-building measures” undermine trust between the two communities and “serve conflict rather than peace, and hostility rather than friendship.”

He also accused circles “driven by Enosis dreams” of damaging prospects for lasting peace on the island.

“Our crescent-and-star flags will continue to wave forever, and our glorious flag in the Besparmak Mountains will remain a symbol of our centuries-old presence on these lands,” Ustel said.