The martyrs of Taşpınar were commemorated with a ceremony on Tuesday.

A ceremony was organized to honour those who were martyred during the national struggle years and the Peace Operation in 1974.

The ceremony held at the Taşpınar Martyrs’ Cemetery was attended by President Ersin Tatar, the Speaker of the TRNC Parliament Zorlu Töre, Lefke District Governor Sadi Güneş, the Commander of the Cyprus Turkish Security Forces Major General Zorlu Topaloğlu, Lefke Mayor Aziz Kaya, Veterans Associations, and the local community.

President Ersin Tatar, like he expressed in the ceremonies attended by Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and his delegation, reiterated his unwavering commitment to the national cause.

Tatar said that they will never forget and will always remember the sacrifice of their martyrs.

Stressing that the freedom, independence, and security enjoyed on these lands today were all thanks to the sacrifices made by the martyrs, the President said “today, at Taşpınar, we share all these thoughts in their spiritual presence, and we share the significance of this moment with the whole world.”

Tatar noted that the Turkish Cypriot people had always remained committed to their struggle for independence, freedom, and the right to live freely in their homeland, never turning away from the path of peace, stressing that the Turkish Cypriots had always shown good intentions, as evident in their support for the Annan Plan, despite the fact that the other side rejected it.

Stating that 49 years had passed since 1974, he stressed that the Cyprus Peace Operation holds a significant place in the lives and history of the Turkish Cypriots.

Tatar also added that the Peace Operation was a turning point, and it led them to gain independence.

Expressing that the struggle was still ongoing today, the president noted that there was international pressure, particularly through the European Union, advocating for the reunification of Cyprus as a whole.

“We reject this approach. With the support of our Motherland, Türkiye, we attach great importance to our own state in the spiritual presence of our martyrs. This state has given us freedom, independence, liberty, and a dignified life” Tatar stressed.

Tatar also stressed that thanks to the guarantees provided by the Turkish Armed Forces, no blood had been spilled on the island since 1974.

Stating that dialogues with the international community were ongoing, he said, “Any agreement must be based on our sovereign equality, equal international status, and cooperation between two states. The agreement should be between two sovereign states. They have their republic, their state, and we have our own, and if they think that we will forget the pain, experiences, martyrs, and sacrifices we have endured in this country by offering us some economic promises, they are mistaken.”

Addressing the participants, President Tatar said, “We have paid significant prices, sacrificed many lives, and endured immense pain. It is thanks to all these sacrifices and efforts that we have established a state and a republic. There may be challenges internally, but I believe that these difficulties will be overcome over time, leading to a more prosperous future for our country and the future generations. Therefore, I call for unity and solidarity among the people and stress the importance of staying on the right path and not making any mistakes in the eyes of the martyrs. Independence, freedom, and sovereignty are vital expressions for us and are indispensable. The TRNC will exist forever, with the guarantee of the motherland. The presence of the Turkish military as a deterrent force on the island must and will remain.”