The ministers from Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Kemal Dürüst and Nazım Çavuşoğlu had visited our club headquarters and were told by Deputy Chairman Erdoğan Toprak that Beşiktaş would always support the aspirations of Turkish Cypriots.

TRNC Culture and Environment Minister Kemal Dürüst and National Education, Youth and Sports Minister Nazım Çavuşoğlu got together with Beşiktaş Deputy Chairman Erdoğan Toprak, General Secretary Fahrettin Curoğlu and Board Member Responsible for Sports Facilities Orhan Saka at our club building in Akaretler on Sunday.
National Education, Youth and Sports Minister Nazım Çavuşoğlu thanked Beşiktaş for its planned investment in Northern Cyprus and added “Beşiktaş is a world rekown club, and her new project must be considered as decisive blow against the ongoing embargo. It will serve as a great contribution towards the official recognition of TRNC, and we will do all in our power for its realization. This project will not only be a big boost to our local clubs but also lay the foundations of sports tourism in Northern Cyprus. I’d like thank Beşiktaş Board of Directors once again and congratulate them on their courageous decision. I hope other mainland clubs will follow and not leave us alone in these difficult times.”
National Education, Youth and Sports Minister Nazım Çavuşoğlu stressed his country’s sports tourism potential and continued: “This project will ease the current embargo and bring in clubs from all over the world, who are in need of pre and mid season training. It will also elevate the performances our local clubs. We have been contemplating such a venture for long time so I welcome the project with my eyes closed and thank Beşiktaş for taking the initiative on this matter. It will set a good model for others to follow.”
Beşiktaş Deputy Chairman and Head of Advisory Boards Erdoğan Toprak, on the other hand, underscored Beşiktaş’s unwavering support for TRNC: “As mentioned earlier, this undertaking offers a number of modern training facilities to local and international football clubs. Even Greek Cypriot teams may come and train there. As Beşiktaş, we want to help our Turkish Cypriot brothers who are isolated from the world and suffering heavily under the ongoing embargo. We believe sports mean peace and any embargo placed on sports is bound to weaken the peace. Therefore, we will proceed as soon as we are given the go ahead. I have no doubt the planned project will contribute towards reducing the tension in Cyprus.”
A number of sports officials from the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus were also present at the visit.