Cyprus continues to discriminate against Kosovo karate fighters

Over 1000 competitors participated in the European Karate Championships for cadets, juniors and the U21 age group that were held in Limassol, Cyprus at the weekend.

Kosovo was not allowed to participate with state symbols in the European Championship in Cyprus. Participation without symbols was not an option.

The Kosovo Federation received confirmation weeks ago that Kosovo karatekas will not be allowed to compete on an equal footing with competitors from other countries.

KOHA has secured the communication that the Kosovo Karate Federation has had with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cyprus, the Karate Federation of this country and the European Karate Federation.

The Kosovo representative was not allowed to compete on an equal footing and for this reason it was decided that the karatekas would not travel to participate in the main continental event.

It was the Government of Cyprus that decided that Kosovo competitors could not compete with state symbols at the European Championships. The decision of the Government of Cyprus was accepted by the European Karate Federation and thus the Kosovar karatekas were left out of the competition that started on

Cyprus does not recognize the state of Kosovo and has decided to continue with its discriminatory attitude towards Kosovar athletes.

The letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cyprus makes clear the reason why Kosovo athletes could not participate with state symbols in the European Championship.

“The Republic of Cyprus does not recognize the unilaterally declared independence of Kosovo. Taking this into consideration, the Republic of Cyprus does not allow the use of symbols that could imply recognition,” the letter of January 16th reads.

The communication of the general secretary of the Kosovo Federation, Nazmi Gashi, began on January 12.
Gashi had written to the secretary of the European Karate Federation, Davor Cipek, who had made it clear to him that Kosovo could participate in accordance with the rules set by the “competent ministry of Cyprus.”

On January 20, the Kosovo Federation received a letter from the president of the Cyprus Karate Federation, Fotis Marathovouniotis.

The letter states that the government of Cyprus does not allow karate players to wear Kosovo’s state symbols.

“The Cyprus Karate Federation, strictly adhering to the instructions and regulations of the Republic of Cyprus, is not able to display any symbol, flag or national anthem of Kosovo. However, your participation may be allowed under the symbol of the Kosovo Karate Federation, which does not fall under any restrictions. We would like to emphasize that the Kosovo Karate Federation is welcome to participate normally in the European Championships,” the Cyprus Karate Federation wrote in the letter.

Three days later, the Kosovo Federation received another letter informing it that it could not participate equally with other countries in the European Championship.

The Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the European Karate Federation, Marton Falusi, wrote to the Kosovo federation on January 23 that it is obliged to respect the laws of Cyprus.

“EKF has played no role in determining these legal conditions and has no authority to change them. EKF’s primary objective remains to ensure the participation of competitors whenever possible, while fully respecting the prevailing legal circumstances. In this context, EKF seeks to offer the Kosovo Karate Federation and its athletes the opportunity to compete, and a possible solution – if acceptable to your Federation – would be to participate under the name and flag of the Kosovo Karate Federation. Our goal remains to provide support and maintain constructive cooperation. We await your positive response.”

But this unequal way of representation has not been accepted by the leaders of Kosovo karate.

Three years ago, Kosovo was not allowed to compete with equal rights in the European Championship for cadets, juniors and U21. The European Championship was also organized in Cyprus.

The karatekas had stood in the stands instead of in the arena.

“We did not want to go, make expenses like in 2023 and return without competing. We made a decision in the executive board that we will not participate without symbols. We also approved the same decision in the Assembly of Labor. We did not go without symbols. The same will be true in the Balkan Championship for seniors to be held in Banja Luka. The organizer is the Federation of the Republika Srpska of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Where we claim that the appearance with state symbols will not be allowed, we have decided not to participate,” said Nazmi Gashi.

Kosovo’s senior and U21 national team coach, Isak Curri, thinks differently. He believes that Kosovo should appear in continental events even when they are not allowed to wear the symbols.

“Russia, as a superpower, today competes without a flag and anthem, under neutral names such as WKF or EKF. While we, who can present ourselves with the name Kosovo, but without a flag, choose total absence. This does not punish the countries that do not recognize us this punishes our athletes. If we continue like this, we will lose not only competitions, but also generations, dreams and hopes. I believe that even without symbols, our physical presence is the strongest form of affirmation of our state. Therefore, I publicly call for our athletes to no longer be deprived of European and world championships for political reasons. Let there be no practical boycott. I hope that the Federation, the Olympic Committee and the MCYS find a wise, fair solution and above all in the interest of our athletes,” writes Curri.