One of the cornerstones of the Turkish Cypriot peoples struggle for existence, the Erenköy Resistance and the martyrs who lost their lives during that time were commemorated with a ceremony at the Erenköy Martyrs Cemetery.
The ceremony was broadcast live on BRT.
The 59th anniversary of the epic Erenköy resistance was marked this morning (Tuesday) with ceremonies at the enclave village to the west of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).
The ceremony began with wreaths being laid in line with the protocol followed by a minutes silence and flags being raised to the national anthem.
The special book was signed by President Ersin Tatar, the Commander of the Cyprus Turkish Peace Forces and the Commander of the Cyprus Turkish Security Forces.
Speaking during the ceremony President Ersin Tatar stated that the Turkish Cypriots wrote an epic in Erenköy 59 years ago.
“Our answer to those who say that the two-state politicy is empty is the resistance here. It is our people who risked their lives in those years” he said.
“The Turkish Cypriots wrote an epic here against the terrorist organisation EOKA and proved that they would exist on these lands forever. We could never accept being erased from history but we were under a great attack. The national movement had reached an important dimension with the arrival of our students on the island” said Tatar.
“Young people, the elderly and women all swore to protect the national unity at the cost of martyrdom. During those years the Founding President Rauf Raif Denktaş coming to the island and planes coming from Türkiye under the leadership of Cengiz Topel put up a resistance here, and the Turkish Cypriots were nearly wiped out.
The Erenköy Resistance followed by the 1974 peace operation have been crowned. Our answer to those who claim that our two state policy is empty, is the resistance here in Erenköy. It was our people who risked their lives during those years” said Tatar.
He emphasized that they will continue to take firm steps towards the future and commemorated the martyrs of the Erenköy resistance with mercy and expressed his gratitude to the veterans.
Commemorative events came to an end with the laying of flowers on the tombs of the martyrs and the recital of prayers.