A ceremony was held on Friday to remember Private Allahverdi Kılıç, who was murdered 27 years ago today by Greek Cypriot soldiers while on duty at his observation post in the village of Güvercinlik.

Wreaths were laid at the observation post where he was killed followed by a minutes silence and the raising of the flags to the national anthem.

The ceremony was attended by President Ersin Tatar.

Speaking at the ceremony, President Ersin Tatar said that any settlement to be reached in Cyprus needed to be based on the equality of the two states.

Referring to the events that took place during the construction of the Pile Yiğitler village road, Tatar said that the United Nations Peacekeeping Force (UNFICYP) tried to prevent the road construction by placing wire fences and barriers.

Underlining that the events that took place gave a message to the whole world about how the Turkish Cypriot people protect their borders, Tatar emphasized that the borders were drawn with the 1974 Peace Operation.

Stating that he was proud to see the TRNC flag hoisted alongside the flags of the member countries of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) at the meeting in Azerbaijan, Tatar pointed to the important message given there.

Referring to his upcoming visit to New York, President Tatar underlined that within the framework of the new and national policy carried out in agreement with Türkiye, an agreement will only be negotiated on the basis of sovereign equality.

At the end of his speech, President Tatar once again paid tribute to the martyrs and expressed gratitude to the veterans.

The ceremony ended with the recitation of a prayer for the martyrs by the religious officer.