Ceremonies and events marking the 21st -25th of December National Struggle and Martyrs Week are continuing.

Turkish Cypriot fighters who fell during the defence of the Turkish Cypriot sector of İskele in the Larnaka district between 1963 and 1974 were remembered today with a ceremony at the Larnaka Martyrs Monument located in modern day İskele in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

The ceremony, which started with the laying of wreaths, continued with a minutes’ silence, shots being fired in respect and flags being raised to the reciting of the national anthem.

The first speech regarding the meaning and importance of the day at the ceremony was made by Ali Abdurrahmanoğlu, President of the Cyprus TMT İskele Mujahideen Association.

He noted that the people of Larnaca fought heroically against the Enosis dream of the Greek Cypriots.

In his speech, the President of the Martyrs’ Families and Disabled War Veterans Association Gürsel Benan emphasized the importance of not forgetting the past.

“No forgetting, as forgetting is the beginning of extinction. In order to walk with more confident steps into the future and to maintain our stability in the future, we will not forget our past, the atrocities and massacres committed in the past, and we will not let them forget,” said Benan.

President Ersin Tatar started his speech by commemorating with mercy those who were martyred by heroically resisting the games played to destroy the Turkish Cypriot people.

Stating that if there is to be an agreement in Cyprus, it can definitely be with a two-state solution, President Tatar said that the discussions for a federation have been closed.

“If the Turkish Cypriot people, who have paid great sacrifices, great pains and great prices, can lead an independent, free and honorable life in this geography today, in a way befitting them, if they have come to the point of leaving a future full of hope to young generations, all this is thanks to the struggle,” said Tatar.

Stating that nations that do not know their past are doomed to be erased from history and geography, President Tatar said, “we will always continue to struggle for peace”.