An event was held in the Turkish capital Ankara to mark the 100th birthday of the late founding President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Rauf Raif Denktaş.
The event, organized by TÜRKSOY and the TRNC Embassy in Ankara, was attended by President Ersin Tatar, Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz, Türkiye’s Ambassador to Lefkoşa Metin Feyzioğlu, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Culture, Youth, and Environment Fikri Ataoğlu, and Denktaş’s son Serdar Denktaş.
In his opening speech at the meeting held at the TÜRKSOY General Secretariat, the TRNC’s Ambassador to Ankara, İsmet Korukoğlu, recalled the life and struggle of the late founding President Denktaş.
TÜRKSOY Secretary-General Sultan Raev also paid tribute to Denktaş in his speech, pointing out that the late president was a common value not only for the TRNC but also for the Turkish nation, stating that his legacy would be passed on to future generations.
Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Tourism, Culture, Youth, and Environment Fikri Ataoğlu in his speech said that Denktaş was a great man and statesman who had dedicated his life to defending the freedom and rights of the Turkish Cypriot people.
The Deputy Prime Minister underscored that the Turkish Cypriot people will continue to follow in Denktaş’s footsteps and preserve his legacy.
Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz also paid tribute to the late founding president of the TRNC.
Yılmaz said that Denktaş was not only a symbol in Cyprus but also in the entire Turkish world, emphasizing that his work and vision continued to live in the form of the TRNC state.
“He is remembered as a versatile statesman with both his photographs and his writings. We carry Denktaş’s legacy in our hearts and do our best for the economic development and international recognition of the TRNC,” the Turkish Vice President said.
Yılmaz also said that efforts for the development of the TRNC as well as its integration with the rest of the world continued.
He indicated that they were also working on a new Protocol of Financial Cooperation with the TRNC, stating that the new cooperation agreement, as the previous ones, will continue to enhance the welfare of the Turkish Cypriot people.
Also delivering a speech, President Ersin Tatar said that he remained committed to preserving the late Denktaş’s legacy which was the TRNC.
“The distance we have covered should not be underestimated,” he said, adding that the Turkish Cypriot people owed their prosperity and freedom today to the state established by the founding president.
The president also drew attention to the great injustice done to the Turkish Cypriot people, emphasizing the Turkish Cypriot people’s right to self-governance as a separate people.
Following the speeches, TÜRKSOY Secretary-General Sultan Raev presented plaques to President Tatar, Turkish Vice President Yılmaz, and Deputy Prime Minister Ataoğlu.
President Ersin Tatar also participated in a panel organized as part of the commemorative event where photographs taken by Denktaş were exhibited.
At the panel, Serdar Denktaş, the son of the Founding President Denktaş, delivered the opening speech and recited poems written by his father Rauf Raif Denktaş.