Well done Marco!!...Cyprus needs brave young men like you to carry on with our struggle to see Cyprus reunited as one country free from the Turkish occupied army.
Marco you have succeeded in embarrassing the UN and the EU who allow such wrong acts to continue. Turkish troops can not remain in Cyprus. We are not going to be silenced.

We are all watching your amazing peformance in tennis and are are so proud of you

Savvas,

savvas, watford, england

Sportmen, as ambassadors for goodwill, cannot insight hatred as was done with Marcos. This deeply embedded hatred and bigotry by Marcos and his gang of Greek extremist hooligans who have even had the audacity to attack police cannot be tolerated and these people must be educated to act like peaceful human beings. The minority of Greeks who seem to be born with 'Turkophobia' must get over the fact that they were occupied by the Turks for 450 years and treated as equal citizens, instead of acting like little girls and lingering on their pernicious version of history. They must also realise that the Turks have been living in Cyprus for hundreds of years, mostly in cohesion with the Greeks and to chant for Turks to leave is like asking Aborigines to leave Australia. They must get over their insecurities, and work towards spreading peace instead of working so desperatly on spreading the venom of hatred. By the way, nobody needs his apology. His image has been tarnished by this foolish act.

Levent Ozgurler, Melbourne, Victoria / Australia

Well done Baghdatis - pleased to see that someone doesn't apologise for views which they holds even if they do offend others. To Mr Suleyman - there is such a thing as freedom of thought and speech. Get over it.

Ian Burgess, Bristol,

the turks have never done anything good in history whether its taking over countries like greece and armenia, or not allowing natural waterways to travel through the middle east and using as blackmail; and they have yet to have ever done anything good, the turks shouldnt be in cyprus, greece, or macedonia and marcos has nothing to appologize for.

Christo C., Ny, Usa, NY

This isn't a Baghdatis/Turkish Cypriot issue; the portion relating to the Turkish cypriots is just a sympton of the unfortunate fact that Baghdatis has chosen to embed himself in with a group of ultra-nationalist hooligans who have gone looking for trouble with other ethnicities quite independently of Turks. Having gotten themselves banned from football matches for 10 years, the Hellas Club have instead turned their attentions to inventing tennis hooliganism.

Baghdatis' response to the trouble they caused a few days ago was to defend them and instead blame the Australian police. The pattern here lies with Baghdatis, not with the Turks.

However, given the revisions of history presented here regarding the division of Cyprus, it is not surprising why the same people would choose to defend Baghdatis.

Even under their embargo, the Turkish Cypriots are far better off today than when the Greek Cypriots were hell-bent on wiping them out. I hope they get justice eventually.

Lee Sawyer, London, UK

The Turkish army invavded Cyprus because of Greek attacks on their citizens and surely the best way to protect their citizens post-conflict was to occupy the small area of the Northen coast. I have been to both sied many times and the TRNC really is a much nicer place i even though it's poorer and less developed ( hindered by stupid embargoes and Greek predjudices).
Turkish Cypriots are wonderful people, very kind, generous, hardworking and honest people.
There is close to a zero percent crime rate in Northern Cyprus I've never felt intimidated, unsafe or unwelcome there wheras the south is a different story.
Given the once Turkish/Greek mix of the island I do not see the problem with the Turks occupying the North. There are many Greeks that have moved back to the North and prefer it there, the sense of community that is missing in the South. But a Turk living in the South would be made to feel most unwelcome and possibly attacked.
Good luck to the Turk Cypriots! They need some.

Kieran, St Andrews, Fife

Whether the Greek-Cypriots were trying to unify the island of Cyprus with its historic homeland Greece and/or kicking the Cypriot-Turk population off of the island prior to the Turkish invasion in 1974 is a matter of opinion and totally irrelevant.
What is NOT a matter of opinion is that the UN has issued countless resolutions calling for the withdrawal of the Turkish military who have ILLEGALLY occupied the northern part of the island since 1974.
Turkey has taken advantage of the need of the US for an ally on the borders of the troubled (and oil rich!) region that is the Middle East. This allows the Turks to (literally) get away with murder on a number of issues.
Marcos Baghdatis has every right to express his opinion at a private event. I wish him all the best against Leyton Hewitt.

V Barbetseas, Oxford, UK

This whole affair has been enflamed by Hakki Suleyman who is calling Baghdatis to be deported from Australia. The media has not noted that he is also Australian organiser for the Australian arm of Ulusal Halk Hareketi (UHH). They are a Turkish Nationalist group who have been pushing their Northen Cyprus takeover agenda for some time. This is not the first time senior members of this the group has used the 'racist' card.

jogged, Melbourne, Australia

There are many instances of Greeks hindering any progress in the Northern Turkish area - The Turkish population had been terrorised for many years before the Turkish Government had to intervene to protect them as no-one else offered any help.
Anyone in doubt should read David Matthews "Cyprus Tapes" ,he was invited to do a "puff" on the Greek position and found sympathy with the Turkish population.

Mike, Birmingham,

Marcos Bagdatis was referring to the Turkish Troops who invaded his home country, Cyprus, in 1974 and who still occupy more than one third of it. The Turkish army has killed raped, desecrated churches, destroyed monuments & antiquities. Over the last 34 years they have been perpetrating the worst kind of ethnic cleansing of the occupied area and have been importing colonists from mainly eastern Turkey so that they change the demographic character of the island. If this is racist behaviour then the all the freedom-loving people in this world are racists! But this is how Turkey is used to distort the truth. It is interesting how you throw in your article a statement like “While the UN does not recognize the autonomy of the Turkish area of northern Cyprus, Greek-Cypriots voted against a UN-brokered settlement in a 2004 referendum”! What does “the Greek Cypriots voted against a UN –brokered settlement in 2004 referendum” mean? The reader is left with the impression that the whole responsibility for the tragedy in Cyprus is down to the Greek Cypriots! It is irresponsible, to say the least, to distort the truth in this way. It is not a matter of opinion as facts speak for themselves.
Turkish propagandists and interests who have their own “political & financial agenda” lie behind this attempt to discredit Bagdatis who is inevitably seen as an asset for Cyprus by simply participating in Tennis Tournaments like the Australian Open.

Steve, London, United Kingdom

Some special interests don't loose a chance to promote anti-greek propaganda! Marcos just shouted the worldwide truth regarding the Cyprus case; the turkish occupation in the northern part of the island is absolutely illegal and must be ended for the sake of justice and peace in the region.

Theodore, Athens, Greece

Turkey invaded Cyprus in two waves on 20 July and 14 August and continues to remain as a forceful presence (Turkish Cypriots regard them as a protection force) on the island in violation of the UN Charter and repeated UN Security Council Resolutions. The result of this invasion was the creation of an illegal Turkish breakaway state in the North and the ethnic cleansing of 250,000 Greek-Cypriots who lived in the North.

Baghdatis has very right to express his views about his homeland in a peacful demonstration, while other nations kill hundreds in suicide bombings or fly planes into buildings and kill thousands!!!!!

Kay, LONDON, UK

Baghdatis should be given his own TV show so that he can tell the world the truth ie., that Makarios wanted to unite Cyprus with Greece as part of his regime which also meant wiping out Turkish Cypriots. Turkey intervened and created peace for its fellow people, peace which remains today, and offers them hope and prosperity. Long live Turkey. Baghdatis, tell the world the truth, not what you have been brainwashed in to believing!!!!!

Ed, London, UK

Marcos is a credit to the sport of Tennis and an example for all to follow. For a young man he has shown tremendous courage to speak out against a clearly illegal military occupation by Turkey, of the little island of Cyprus. Many others including politicians as well as celebrities choose to appease rather that condemn Turkey for its illegal acts – Armenian genocide and oppression of the Kurds to name but a few.
Sadly the Australian and British press choose to portray Marcos’s stance as a "racist row" rather than an expression of an honest opinion by an honest and down to earth young sportsman.

Helen , London, England

Congratulations Marcos on your stance against the invader of your homeland.TURKEY has been playing with peoples lives for 30 years in Cyprus and Marcos should be congratulated in taking time out from his profession to bring it to the worlds attention. It is a shame the media were so reluctant in the coverage of this story to discuss the United Nations resolutions. I didnt notice any of the turkish representatives responding to the United Nations resolutions either. Deafening silence instead!

Bill Gavalas, melbourne, AUSTRALIA

Marcos is a credit to the sport of Tennis and an example for all to follow. For a young man he has shown tremendous courage to speak out against a clearly illegal military occupation by Turkey, of the little island of Cyprus. Many others including politicians as well as celebrities choose to appease rather that condemn Turkey for its illegal acts – Armenian genocide and oppression of the Kurds to name but a few.
Sadly the Australian and British press chooses to portray Marcos’s stance as a "racist row" rather than an expression of an honest opinion by an honest and down to earth young sportsman.

Helen , London, England

Serkan has a very valid point - the history of Cyprus' current divide cannot be simply painted in black and white terms as an aggressor and victim.

Dave Williams, Beijing, China

Turkey illegally has 40,000 troops in Cyprus and prevents refugees to go back to their homes.
It is beyond belief that a Cypriot is criticised as being anti-Turk by just pointing that they should withdraw. The whole world needs to be reminded of Turkey's terrorist actions in Cyprus.

G Gordon, Birmingham, UK

just remeber that the invasion came in response to greek attempts to wipe the minority turkish population off the island and unify with greece

serkan, ilford, england

The video in question was shot last year in January 2007 during last years Australian Open. This was not disclosed in your article. And what Marcos and the other Greeks and Cypriots were shouting was for the Turkish troops to get out of Cyprus. There are numerous UN resolutions on this issue asking for the withdrawal of the Turkish troops from a foreign country like Cyprus. I really do not see anything wrong with Marcos.
As for the comments of Mr Mustafa from Istanbul, I pity him.

Stelios Prodromitis, Nicosia, Cyprus

Cyprus was invaded by Turkey in 1974 and has continued to occupy 39% of Cyprus's territory.Baghdatis has a right to express his views at a private party as this is freedom of speech.All he was singing was Turks out of Cyprus , which means the Turkish army withdraws from the occupied parts of Cyprus.He is not inciting hatred! He is expressing his view that Cyprus needs to be free from occupation! That is it!

Kay Black, London, Uk

the turkish occupation of cyprus is illegal the UN have made countless resoloutions for the removal of turkish troops from cyprus.baghdatis is a hero and is only repeating what the world and the UN have been demanding for 33 years.
TURKISH TROOPS OUT OF CYPRUS the reports of racism are turkish propoganda

ANDREW, larnaca, cyprus

Kudis to Baghdatis who dare to speak his mind.

Turkey is the aggressor and occupying force here and they are the ones that need to apologize. I wish more celebrities would be open and candid!

Good job and good luck Marcos!

Michael, Virginia Beach, USA

Baghdatis should be commended for refusing to apologise for having "dared" to express his opinion at a bbq (not in front of the world media) regarding the outrageous situation in Cyprus that is still unresolved since 1974. I wish more celebrities/stars etc. showed similar interest in what is happening in the world today...

V Barbetseas, Oxford, England

The disgrace is that Turkey continues to occupy Cyprus, an EU member country, despite numerous UN resolutions and Strasbourg Court rulings. This young star is quite right to be aggrieved. Good luck to him.

Andrew, leyton, uk

Sportsmanship doesn't come easy to some people, including Baghdatis.

Tim, Dallas, TX

The slogan Marcos chanted, is one very often used in demos and protests. It calls for the removal of the Turkish army from Cyprus. It is NOT a racist comment against any indigenous citizen of the Republic of Cyprus. He merely expressed his feelings the same way as all Greek and many Turkish Cypriot youngsters that feel aggrieved at the continuous military occupation of their country by Turkey, would.
Should any one take trip down to Belgravia Sqr outside the Turkish embassy, or to Trafalgar Sqr, around 20/07 every year, the date of the Turkish invasion of the Republic, will hear thousands of people, of all ages and sexes, chanting the same slogan amongst others, condemning the illegal invasion of Cyprus, the continued occupation of it’s northern part, Turkey’s refusal to allow the refugees (I am one of them) to return to their homes and to end the division of the island. Are we all racists?
We are proud of Marcos, as a tennis player and as a young man with morals and principles

K. Christodoulou, London, UK

Give him ago! i hope Marocs receives any trouble from the Australian public! He played amazingly against Safin! Marcos should not be forced to apologize or be put in any position to apologize!

Good luck against Layton!

All the best!

seb, auckland, New Zealand

Baghdatis is a disgrace to the sport of tennis.
Sport transcends politics and the authorities must come down hard on a player who has abused his position as a "professional".
Baghdatis should be banned!

Mustafa, Istanbul,