Gökçek said Turkey had categorically rejected Greece’s demand to disqualify KKTC from the games and said it is “ugly” to get children involved in politics.
Athens-backed Greek Cyprus has been in dispute with Turkish Cyprus for decades and no country other than Turkey has yet recognized the KKTC.
The Ankara Metropolitan Municipality and the Youth Sports General Directorate organized the event, which was kicked off by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Monday.
Gökçek said Turkey had extended the invitation to every country without discrimination, regardless of political disputes and on the behalf of peace, brotherhood and friendship, adding that there are children from conflicting countries such as Azerbaijan and Armenia, Israel and Palestine among the more than 3,000 participants from 90 countries. The Ankara mayor hailed Greece’s behavior as a “coup to world peace and friendship,” and said such behavior involving children is unacceptable.
Stressing that children are the symbol of peace, brotherhood and friendship, Gökçek said his city’s administration always strives to bring representatives from disputing countries together in various events. The mayor warned against raising children with prejudice by involving them in politics, as they would otherwise become friends with the children of other countries.
