Greek Cyprus has canceled its participation in Israel's Tourism Expo, which starts today at the Exhibition Grounds in Tel Aviv, to protest the participation of a company representing the Turkish part of Cyprus.

The company is registered as the Tourism Center of North Cyprus.

Last week Israel's Foreign Ministry wrote to the fair's organizers,telling them to make sure the north Cypriot company - which was welcome to participate - didn't show symbols of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus such as flags, posters, signs, brochures, business cards, movies and what not.

Despite these stringent conditions and the undertaking of the organizers to obey the ministry's orders, the Greek Cypriots pulled out, though they are regular participants at the annual fair. They had already put everything in place and sent a container with promotional materials and everything else they needed for their presentation.

The Cypriot Tourism Ministry has not commented on the affair. Lior Gelfand, one of the fair's organizers, said its purpose is to promote trade and tourism, not to engage in politics or foreign relations.

"We have a long-standing, good relationship with the representation in Israel of the Cypriot Tourism Ministry," Gelfand said. The Cypriots regularly get a choice spot at the fair, which is reserved for them year after year, Gelfand said, adding that he deeply regrets the last-minute decision by the Cypriot government to shun the expo this year, preventing Cypriot tourism agencies from maintaining contact with the local market just as Israelis cutting back costs are seeking holiday destinations closer to home.