Former President Derviş Eroğlu has released a message on the anniversary of the death of Dr. Fazıl Küçük.

In his message, Eroğlu expressed that Küçük was always a leader who stood by his people throughout his life.

“The efforts of Dr. Fazıl Küçük and his comrades, the unforgettable leaders of our struggle for existence and freedom, stand as fundamental elements that have brought our society from the brink of extinction to a point of having a state. Through the writings of Dr. Küçük in newspapers and the struggle conducted through the Halkın Sesi newspaper, which he founded and wrote for, the Turkish Cypriots raised their voice, gathered strength, and found morale against the injustices of British colonial rule and the Greek Cypriots,” he said.

Eroğlu said that Küçük by setting up the, Cyprus Turkish National People’s Party, had brought to the world’s attention that Cyprus did not solely belong to the Greek Cypriots but to Turkish Cypriots as well.

“Dr. Fazıl Küçük led the Cyprus Turkish delegation in the 1958-1959 London-Zurich agreements and became the Vice President in the 1960 partnership state. Throughout his life, Dr. Fazıl Küçük was always among his people, by their side, thinking of them. What Dr. Küçük wrote and said is evident. It is the duty of our people, especially our youth, to learn well the struggle for freedom and existence that Dr. Fazıl Küçük and his comrades fought, and to draw lessons from it for the future,” he said.

The former TRNC president concluded his message by highlighting the importance of upholding and preserving the state.