Cypriot Ambassador says Turkish President was reluctant to shake hands with her

print this

The Ambassador of Cyprus accredited to Helsinki, Loria Markides, expressed her regret on Thursday about the cancellation of a planned visit to Finland by Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. Ms. Markides assumed that she was one reason for the request to postpone the visit.
      On Wednesday, Ambassador Markides was contacted by a Turkish newspaper and informed of the reasons for calling off President Sezer's forthcoming visit.
     
"I was told that the visit was cancelled, as President Sezer did not want to shake hands with me at the dinner planned in his honour", said Markides over the phone on Thursday.
      "I called the Finnish authorities and they confirmed that this was the case", she added.
      Sezer was reported to be angry because President Tarja Halonen had invited Cypriot Ambassador Markides to the dinner planned for the occasion, for Turkey has not officially recognised the Greek-led Republic of Cyprus.
     
The controversial dinner was called off in Finland last Friday, and Sezer was invited to come to Helsinki for a visit without any dinner arrangements. However, Sezer announced on Monday that he had cancelled the whole trip. Originally, Sezer was due to arrive in Helsinki next Monday.
      On the other hand, Ambassador Markides remarked that she had previously had dinners with Turkish diplomats in Helsinki, and so she did not understand why it was not possible with the Turkish President.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Turkish President angered by planned dinner arrangements for visit (10.3.2005)

Helsingin Sanomat