President Ersin Tatar has paid tribute to Dr. Fazıl Küçük – the Turkish Cypriot leader who “lead our People in their struggle for existence and freedom,” on the 40th anniversary of his passing.
The first ceremony was held at the Dr. Fazıl Küçük Mausoleum in Lefkoşa on Monday, January 15, which commenced with a minute’s silence, followed by the playing of the National Anthem to which the flags of Türkiye and the TRNC were lowered to half-mast.
The ceremony ended with President Tatar's address following his signing of the Memorial Special Book.

“Dr. Küçük always stood by his people”
Delivering a speech at the ceremony on the 40th anniversary of his passing, President Tatar paid respect to Dr. Fazıl Küçük “who lead the struggle of the Turkish Cypriot People for existence and freedom”.
“We remember our great leader with respect, and we express our gratitude for his lifelong perseverance and sacrifice for the just cause of the Turkish Cypriot People,” President Tatar said.
President Tatar stated: “Dr. Fazıl Küçük closely followed the revolutions and ideals of the Great Leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and the establishment of the Republic of Türkiye following the struggle of the Turkish nation for independence, as well as  the struggle of the Turkish Cypriot People during the British colonial period, at a time when there were no sufficient means of communication.   Dr. Fazıl Küçük carried out multi-dimensional work in light of the reforms of Atatürk, in which he was a great believer,  which he implemented in Cyprus.”
Stressing that Dr. Küçük “was fully devoted and loyal to the Turkish nation, Kemalism and brave leadership”, President Tatar added: “Engaging in social activities during the British Colonial Administration and leading the Turkish Cypriot people in their struggle for existence and freedom was not easy.”
“The British implemented strict legal enforcement, which were at times harsh, to which Dr. Fazıl Küçük showed resilience and strong opposition, for the future well-being of the Turkish Cypriot People,” President Tatar said.  “Dr. Küçük put forward an extra ordinary effort to ensure that the Religious Foundation (Evkaf) would come under Turkish Cypriot administration."
Pointing out that the former Turkish Cypriot leader had realised the importance of media, President Tatar said: “Dr. Fazıl Küçük opened the Halkın Sesi Newspaper in order to spread the ideals and principles of Kemalism throughout the island and to give a message of loyalty to the Turkish nation.”
“In all his efforts and works, our great leader, Dr. Fazıl Küçük, always prioritised the interests of the Turkish Cypriot People and he led them through his social work,” President Tatar said.
Referring to Dr. Fazıl Küçük's meeting with Founding President Rauf Raif Denktaş and the rally in Selimiye Square, Lefkoşa in 1948, President Tatar stated that the activities that Küçük and Denktaş carried out together for the cause and their visit to the Republic of Türkiye in order to raise awareness of what was happening in Cyprus were of crucial importance. 
Explaining that Dr. Küçük and Denktaş “put forward extraordinary efforts to transform the unclear policy of Türkiye about Cyprus into a national policy,” President Tatar said: “Küçük and Denktaş were key players in ensuring that Türkiye understood what was happening in Cyprus and the plight and just cause of the Turkish Cypriot People, which reflected with the change in Türkiye’s policy towards Cyprus.”
President Tatar stated that they were able to persuade the former Prime Minister of the Republic of Türkiye, late Adnan Menderes and the then Minister of Foreign Affairs, late Fatin Rüştü Zorlu. “They persuaded the officials of Türkiye on what needed to be achieved prior to the London and Zurich treaties, and they worked closely together with Türkiye to ensure that the sovereignty and equality of the Turkish Cypriot People was protected and crowned through the signing of the treaties that established the Republic of Cyprus, which was a partnership state of which the Turkish Cypriots were co-founders.” President Tatar added that the treaties of this partnership state also enshrined the existence of the active and effective guarantees of Türkiye, which was achieved through arduous efforts and determination.
“As a doctor, Fazıl Küçük always stood by his people and did not desert them during the difficult times that befell the Turkish Cypriot people after the establishment of the Republic of Cyprus and in the years between 1963 to 1974,” President Tatar said.
Stating that Dr. Küçük donated his personal property to build houses for refugees, President Tatar said that in 1974, Dr. Küçük continued to lead and support the Turkish Cypriot people through his writings and articles.
President Tatar stated that Dr. Küçük, Founding President Rauf Raif Denktaş and Osman Örek were together when the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus was proclaimed on November 15, 1983, adding: “When the trio set out on this path, they set out to achieve the independence, freedom and liberty of the Turkish Cypriot people."
President Tatar stated that while the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus was being proclaimed to the world in the Assembly of the Republic, Dr. Fazıl Küçük was present in Parliament despite his illness. “I wish to stress that after he witnessed the proclamation of the TRNC, the symbol of the sovereignty and independence of the Turkish Cypriot People, Dr. Küçük had stated that hge will not "die a sad man".  The President said that Dr. Küçük had passed away following the proclamation of the TRNC.
“May he rest in eternal peace,” President Tatar said.
President Tatar signed the Memorial Special Book and the ceremony was concluded.