Turkey defends GP podium decision
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-09-08 20:47
ISTANBUL, Sept 8 - Organisers of the Turkish Grand Prix defended on
Friday a decision to allow the leader of breakaway northern Cyprus to lead a
controversial prize-giving ceremony at Istanbul's Formula One race last month.
Organisers have been summoned to an extraordinary meeting in Paris on
September 19 to face charges of breaking Formula One rules.
The trophy was presented to Ferrari's race winner Felipe Massa by Turkish
Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, who was described by a television caption as
the "President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus".
Cyprus is composed of an internationally recognised Greek Cypriot south and a
smaller, breakaway north which only Turkey recognises.
The island has been split along ethnic lines since Turkish troops invaded the
north in 1974 after a brief Greek Cypriot coup backed by the military junta then
ruling Greece.
"Even though the issue of the Turkish Cypriots of Northern Cyprus is a
national cause for our country, the podium ceremony of the successful F1 race
was in no way conducted with the purpose of gaining political advantage,"
Istanbul Chamber Of Commerce (ITO) President Murat Yalcintas said in a
statement.
ITO is a majority shareholder in Istanbul's Formula One circuit. It is also
the organiser and operator of the race.
FIA sources have said the matter is so serious that it could potentially
jeopardise next year's race as well as Turkey's status within the governing
body.
"According to F1 podium ceromony regulations Mr Mehmet Ali Talat, as a
dignitary of international status, was the most senior protocol attending the
event. For this reason he was invited to present the award to the winner of the
race," Yalcintas said.
The FIA, which brings together 213 national motoring organisations from 125
countries, said last month that political neutrality was fundamental to its role
as a governing body.
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