TR

President Ersin Tatar: “Sebastian Vettel sporting a helmet with the flags of states from around the world, including Turkey and TRNC, has given an important message.”

President Tatar highlighted that the Formula 1 Champion, Sebastian Vettel, has given an important message to the whole world by wearing a specially designed helmet inscribed with ‘No War’, in the colours of the Ukrainian flag, adding at the base of the helmet the flags of states from around the world, including Türkiye and TRNC.

The President said the following:
 
“We are going through days when the whole world is following the war in Ukraine with great sadness whilst defending  the importance of peace and brotherhood. 
 
In this context, Formula 1 World Champion Sebastian Vettel sported a specially made helmet with a 'No War' inscription, in the colours of the Ukrainian flag, adding at the base of the helmet the flags of states from around the world, including Turkey and TRNC.  This is a significant message given  to the whole world.
 
However,  even in a war environment with such a terrible human tragedy taking place and the loss of lives of innocent civilians,  the Greek Cypriot administration is continuing its unfortunate stance of maintaining its hostile attitude towards the TRNC flag and  does not tolerate the stance of Sebastian Vettel  giving  the message of respect, brotherhood and peace to all the humanity of the world. The Greek Cypriots use sport, a world language, as a tool for their political purposes.
 
This out-dated mentality, mixing politics into sport and insisting on the continuation of unjust and inhumane isolation, can make no  positive contribution to sport or to world humanity, nor can it help us to  live in peace and brotherhood.
 
No political maneuver can change the fact that, for centuries, the Turkish Cypriots have existed in these lands in peace, freedom and security.
 
Under all circumstances, Turkish Cypriot people have continued to live in their sovereign state under the roof of the TRNC, that is the symbol of their freedom and independence.
 
It should be known that we will continue to advocate with determination our new policy that is based on the cooperative relationship of two sovereign States and continue our struggle against out-dated isolation and barriers imposed on Turkish Cypriot people which violates our human rights.