The cancellation of the football match between Çetinkaya Football Club of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and Luton Town Football Club of the United Kingdom, which was scheduled to take place on 11 July 2007 in Lefkoşa, due to the obstructionist efforts of the Greek Cypriot Administration, constitutes another example of inhuman restrictions imposed on the Turkish Cypriots over years.

The hindrance of a friendly match in such a manner does not only run counter to the prospective solution of the Cyprus problem and the rights of the Turkish Cypriots stemming from the 1960 Agreements, but also deprives, once again, the Turkish Cypriots of enjoying one of their fundamental rights.

It will be recalled that the European Council, in its decision of 26 April 2004, declared its commitment to lift the restrictions imposed on the Turkish Cypriots following the Turkish Cypriots’ demonstration of their will for peace and unification in the referendum in 2004. The former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan also made a call in his report dated 28 May 2004 to end the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots by underlining its unjust and superfluous nature. The cancellation of the football match between Çetinkaya and Luton Town teams contradicts with these promises and declarations.