The former Prime Minister of the Turkish Federated State of Cyprus, Osman Örek, was commemorated at a ceremony held at his gravesite on the 26th anniversary of his passing.
The ceremony, held at Lefkoşa State Cemetery, was attended by President Ersin Tatar, Speaker of the Republic’s Assembly Ziya Öztürkler, Prime Minister Ünal Üstel, Minister of Foreign Affairs Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu, several members of parliament, and other officials.
As per protocol, wreaths were laid, and the national anthem was played as the flags were raised.
Speaking on behalf of the family, Osman Örek’s daughter, Yeşim Örek, stressed the significance of her father’s efforts in defending the rights of the Turkish Cypriot people.
Yeşim Örek also highlighted the former Prime Minister’s relentless efforts to bring the Turkish Cypriot cause to the international stage.
President Ersin Tatar also spoke at the ceremony, stressing Osman Örek’s important role in Turkish Cypriot history.
Tatar also underlined the significance of Örek’s contributions in protecting the inherent rights of the Turkish Cypriot people.
President Tatar, recalling the work carried out by Osman Örek and his delegations during the founding period of the Turkish Federated State of Cyprus, described Örek as a visionary who could foresee the future.
Stressing that Türkiye’s guarantee played a crucial role in the process of the Turkish Cypriot people gaining their freedom, he said, “Türkiye is indispensable for the TRNC. The greatest factor in reaching where we are today is the struggle we have fought alongside Türkiye.”
Tatar also touched upon the talks in Geneva, noting that, when considering the realities of Cyprus, the two-state cooperation is the best solution.
“If we want what’s best for our people, cooperation between the two sides was inevitable” he said.