President Ersin Tatar took part in the ceremony held to commemorate the 57th anniversary of the Erenköy resistance.

 

Speaker of the Parliament Önder Sennaroğlu, Prime Minister Ersan Saner, Turkish Ambassador to Lefkoşa Ali Murat Başceri, Commander of the Cyprus Turkish Peace Forces Major General Sezai Öztürk, Security Forces Commander Major General Zorlu Topaloglu, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Economy and Energy Erhan Arıklı, Minister of Foreign Affairs Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu, Minister of Labour and Social Security Koral Çağman, Chief of Police Ahmet Soyalan, Peoples Party Chairman Kudret Özersay, deputies, military and civilian officials, relatives of martyrs and members of the public attended the event.

 

The ceremony commenced at 10am with the laying of wreaths at the martyrs monument in Erenköy. This was followed with the observation of a minutes silence and the raising of the flags of the Republic of Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus which was accompanied by the playing of the National Anthem.

 

The Martyrdom Commemoration Book was signed by President Tatar, Cyprus Turkish Peace Forces Commander Major General Sezai Öztürk and Security Forces Commander Major General Zorlu Topaloğlu.   

The ceremony continued with the addresses of President Tatar, Yenierenköy Mayor Emrah Yeşilırmak and the Turkish Cypriot Soldiers Association Chairman Mustafa Arıkan.

              

The ceremony ended with a visit to the graves inside the martyrdom, where relatives and loved ones left flowers and prayers were read for the martyrs.

 

MARTYRDOM COMMEMORATION BOOK WAS SIGNED

 


President Ersin Tatar wrote the following in the book:

 

“Our beloved and respected martyrs, on this 57th anniversary of the Erenköy Resistance, which has a very significant place in our national struggle, where you made the ultimate sacrifice by shedding your blood and giving your lives for Turkish Cypriots to be able to live free and independent in the territories they know as homeland. We are once again before your spiritual presence.

 

“You protected the honour of the Turkish people in the Erenköy Resistance, which is considered to be the second Çanakkale legendary struggle that has left its mark in the history of our national struggle. At the cost of your lives, you did not leave to the enemy the only area from which contact was possible between the Turkish Cypriot people with Motherland Turkey. You protected the area which was very important and sacred for the resistance of our people. You have sacrificed a lot on this path. If today, the Turkish Cypriot people are living freely and fearless in their own homeland under the roof of their own State, we owe it to you. Rest in peace in these lands you defended with your lives leaving to us the great historical Erenköy legendary struggle.  With the inspiration and virtue which emanates from you – our martyrs – onto us, we will continue the struggle.   We will guard our lands. We will not forget you or allow for you to be forgotten.  Once again, we remember you with respect and gratitude, may your souls rest in peace, the country is in debt and grateful to you. May you rest in eternal peace.”

 



 

“WITH THE ERENKÖY RESISTANCE, THE TURKISH CYPRIOTS HAVE GIVEN THE MESSAGE TO THE WORLD THAT THEY ARE READY TO DIE FOR THE SAKE OF THEIR COUNTRY”

 

In his address at the ceremony, President Ersin Tatar said that Erenköy, located on the west-part of the island which is an enclave that is detached from the rest of the TRNC, is “full of memories,  where 563 students risked their lives and fought for the defence of the Turkish Cypriot people”.

 

Stating that the Greek Cypriots were taking steps to achieve the ultimate objective of uniting the island of Cyprus with Greece (ENOSIS),  President Tatar noted that the attacks on Erenköy – which was the only link between the Turkish Cypriots and Turkey due to its sea front location, had executed a planned attack on this region. He said it was when the patriotic Turkish Cypriot fishermen contacted Anatolia and brought weapons to the island with their boats. The President said that the students decided to take up resistance at this point, where they travelled to Erenköy at the cost of their lives and defended the area for two years. Expressing that they were fighting under Greek Cypriot attacks whilst the UN remained a spectator, President Tatar said: "It was only our motherland who had helped us."

 

Stating that Turkey has exercised her right as a guarantor, President Tatar emphasised that preparations for 1974 were made after the Erenköy events.  Pointing out the martyrdom of pilot Cengiz Topel in his speech, President Tatar said that during his recent visit to Turkey, he had taken soil from the TRNC – and had poured it onto his grave.



 

 “TRNC IS BLESSED AND IT IS OUR FUTURE”

 

Stating that with the Erenköy Resistance, the Turkish Cypriots gave the message to the whole world that they are ready to die for the sake of their country, President Tatar emphasised that at this point, Turkish Cypriots will never give up their freedom, sovereignty and independence.

 

Reminding that they presented their proposals for the cooperation of two separate sovereign, equal states at the five-plus-UN informal meeting that was held in Geneva last April, President Tatar said this has been “recorded as a historical step”.

 

President Tatar wished mercy to the martyrs and expressed his gratitude to the veterans. "The TRNC is blessed and it is our future," he said.