After a vote against the reunification of Cyprus among the Greek population on the island, the question raised at TRT about how to announce the Cypriot singer. TRT has contacted the Turkish foreign minister Abdullah Gul for an answer, the Turkish newspaper Hurriyet reported today. An example of a storm in a glass of water?
The issue started before the referendum on the island. TRT asked the foreign minister how to announce Cyprus at the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest. If both parts would have voted in favour of the reunification, then it would've been called United Cyprus, but Turkey is used to the name South Cyprus. Gul stated that if TRT would use a country name like South Cyprus or Greek part of Cyprus, it would upset many people. After the referendum, TRT contacted Gul again with the same question, how to announce Cyprus.
The foreign minister gave TRT an answer at a TV program about the reunification referendum on the television channel TGRT: “TRT has to do it like last year, just announce Cyprus”, the minister said. Gul added that Turkey wouldn't get in trouble when TRT uses the name Cyprus.
Earlier, Eurovision Song Contest Supervisor Svante Stockselius declared to esctoday.com that the graphics used for the contest sould and will carry the name Cyprus, in accordance with EBU guidelines. This turns the story into storm in a glass of water, as it was already clear which name would appear on the graphics.
Information for this article provided by Riza Seref and Deniz Demirkan. Thanks!
