ANKARA
Turkey condemned Tuesday the burning of a Turkish flag during a football match between AC Omonia and APOEL F.C. in southern Cyprus.
"We regret this event. We hope Greek Cypriots, as a whole, do not approve of this act of disrespect particularly as comprehensive negotiations for a solution in Cyprus are ongoing," Tanju Bilgic, Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman said.
Apparently APOEL F.C supporters burnt a Turkish flag during the match in Nicosia to show their loathing of supporters of rival football club, AC Omonia, which is also said to be supported by Turks, according to local sources.
The incident comes just as the EU and U.S. have sent envoys to Cyprus to push forward negotiations aimed at a solution to the ongoing conflict between Greek and Turkish Cypriots on the Mediterranean island.
The conflict has been holding back negotiations between the EU and Turkey, as Cyprus, an EU member since 2004, has blocked several negotiation phases after Turkey's refusal to recognize it as a state.
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