Today marks the 13th anniversary of the death of our founding President, Rauf Raif Denktaş.
In his memory, two separate commemorative ceremonies were held in the capital, Lefkoşa.
The first ceremony took place at the Founder President Denktaş’s memorial tomb.
The ceremony began at 10:08 AM with the attending protocol members taking their places in front of the mausoleum and presenting wreaths in the order of the protocol.
A moment of silence was then observed, and the flags were first raised to the top of the flagpoles and then lowered to half-mast while the National Anthem was played.
The commemoration of the Founder President continued with President Ersin Tatar signing the Special Memorial Book.
In his speech during the ceremony, President Ersin Tatar stated that they had gathered to commemorate the 13th anniversary of the death of Founder President Rauf Raif Denktaş, saying, “We remember him with mercy, respect, and love.”
“While recounting the events that unfolded in Cyprus during his childhood, his grandfather’s passing left a strong love for the homeland, Türkiye, and the determination to fight for the Turkish Cypriot people as a nation, not as a community. Encouraged by his father, Judge Raif Bey, he dedicated himself to this cause from an early age. In 1948, he found himself in the political arena with his historic speech in Selimiye Square, invited by Dr. Fazıl Küçük at the age of 24” the President added.
Stressing that the Founder President, in the 1960 Cyprus Agreements, devoted his life to ensuring the rights of the Turkish Cypriot people as an experienced lawyer, a good negotiator, and a former prosecutor, Tatar pointed out that after this great success, following Makarios’ statement, “We never thought of preserving the Republic of Cyprus,” and the subsequent attacks on the Turkish Cypriots, Rauf Raif Denktaş always stood by his people.
President Tatar also said that Denktaş absorbed his grandfather’s words, “After the Ottoman soldiers left the island in 1878, when will the Turkish army return?” and spent his life anticipating this return.
Tatar continued, stating that Founder President Denktaş represented the Turkish Cypriots on the international stage for years, advocating for a solution based on sovereignty, and how the name of Rauf Raif Denktaş became synonymous with the Turkish Cypriots with the support of Türkiye.
“When we look back, even though the Turkish Cypriots have lost children and endured great suffering, they have never given up, fallen, or quit. They have always continued to follow their leader’s success. We are proud to commemorate Rauf Raif Denktaş on the 13th anniversary of his passing. The two-state approach and political stance we are pursuing today are essentially his legacy, his heritage” Tatar expressed.
Tatar concluded his speech by saying, “Therefore, we share with you and our people once again that the legacy he left behind, the two-state solution, is the only way for the Turkish Cypriot people’s social existence in this land to be carried into the future with confidence. I remember him with mercy. May his soul rest in peace.”