T24 News Centre
Journalist Sebilai Yurman wrote about the suspicions behind the relocation of Nicosia Ambassador Metin Feycioğlu, which surfaced after he failed to welcome CHP leader Özgür Özer at a ceremony in the TRNC. “The appointment has been interpreted as a promotion move for Özer, but the situation has a much deeper history,” Yurman said, adding that there was unrest within the TRNC against Feycioğlu and intense lobbying for his removal. “Contempt for Özer accelerated the process,” Yurman said, citing a source he had spoken to as saying he “incorporated input from the TRNC, which is crucial for Turkey.”
Ambassador to Nicosia Metin Feycioglu has been relocated and appointed to Prague, where former Minister Egemen Bagis was ambassador. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Yasin Ekrem Selim has been appointed to replace Feycioglu, the former Chairman of the Turkish Lawyers Union and Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to Nicosia since 2022.
Last on the agenda was Feyzioglu’s failure to welcome CHP leader Özgür Özer at the ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of Cyprus peace operations in the TRNC.
CHP Chairman Ozgur Ozer said he would report to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs his displeasure over the lack of welcome given to Turkish Ambassador to Nicosia Metin Feycioglu and embassy officials at an event marking the 50th anniversary of the Cyprus peace operation.
In response to Ezer’s insistence that Feytsioğlu was not an expert and therefore could not accept the position, Feytsioğlu said it was not their duty to welcome him and that they had not met with Özgül Özer because they were dealing with President Erdoğan and the Cabinet.
He did not welcome Ezer. The Nicosia ambassador, Metin Feytsioglu, was transferred to his post and Deputy Minister Selim became ambassador to the TRNC, where his family’s company had investments.
Journalist Sebilai Yurman shared some behind-the-scenes details of Feitziol’s appointment on his X account:
“The background to Metin Feycioglu’s appointment in Prague appears to be different from what many think.
The appointment has been interpreted as a promotional move for CHP Chairman Özgür Özer, but the situation has a deeper history.
It has long been known that there was violence against Mr Feyzioglu in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and intense lobbying for his removal.
During an official visit of CHP Chairman Özgür Özer and the accompanying delegation to the TRNC, the failure of Feycioğlu and embassy officials to meet them, and Özer’s criticism of the situation, was the final straw.
The process of removing Mr. Feitziol from his position had already begun, but this disrespect for Ezer accelerated the process.
A comment from a source familiar with the situation is noteworthy: “The aim is not to promote Feyzioglu to Prague, but to poach him from the TRNC, which is crucial for Turkey.”
I think this comment makes it clear that the real aim is to remove Feyzioglu from the TRNC.
Let me add some additional information.
In fact, Özgür Özer became the saviour of Feyzioglu’s career, but it was already just a matter of time before Feyzioglu was fired!
Metin Feycioglu, who was dismissed and may not be appointed as ambassador again, publicly stated that he felt it was negative to have Özgür Özer’s name on the agenda and that he had complained to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He was appointed ambassador to Prague so that people would not say that ‘CHP Chairman Özgür Özer asked for Feycioglu’s dismissal.’
Metin Feyzioğlu in reply to Özgür Özel: I didn’t see it
CHP’s response to Ambassador Metin Feytsioglu of Nicosia: Far from professional, make an effort to be a mouthpiece for the government!
Özgür Özer: If there were elections today, we would have been in power, that’s why I visited Erdogan
What did Özgür Özer say?
CHP Chairman Özgür Özer said this about Turkey’s Nicosia ambassador Metin Feytsioğlu, who did not come to meet with the TRNC:
“We have something called a protocol in our country. In the protocol, we have the president, the speaker of parliament, the main opposition party, and other political parties. I am ranked third in the Turkish protocol, and it is one of their duties to welcome me, and wherever we go in the world, the ambassador of the main opposition leader will meet us at the airport. If he cannot come, someone from the embassy will come. If no one is available, if a tea seller comes, it will be an honor to welcome the Republic of Turkey.
We went to Cyprus and this is the second time, you are not there (come on, you have a history with the CHP, maybe a grudge) you have to be there as a duty. If you don’t come yourself, send someone. I think those who were not sent are also very upset. I am not angry at anyone in Cyprus at this time, except the Cypriot ambassador, because that ugly plan is the ambassador’s responsibility.
The gentleman who made the statement today said, “We only welcome ministers. By protocol, ministers come after me.” By political parties he means the main opposition party. He also says, “I have never met Ozgür Bey. If I had met him, I would have greeted him.” The whole of Turkiye, and the whole world, saw it on the screen. I am on both sides of the president. This gentleman goes to the AK Party table, but he does not come to our table.
I don’t know what grudge he has against us. This person I know was an oppositionist, against the one-man regime. Then whatever happened, things changed 180 degrees. They gave him an embassy, but his own colleagues excommunicated him and are rebelling against Ataturk’s party as if it was my fault. I know that if he wasn’t an ambassador, he would have a Turkish flag on his car.
I will leave the evaluation to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. I have a handle on it and I use it like that, but this is not right. This comes from indigestion. Renegade will be very orthodox. There is a lot to say, but I am not saying it with any respect for the flag he flies. We will report the discomfort we feel to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “It is up to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to do what is necessary.”
