President Tatar issues a message in commemoration of 19 September Veterans’ Day
“Our greatest responsibility to our veterans, martyrs and children is to strengthen, develop and embrace our State.”
The Message of President Tatar on Veterans’ Day reads as follows:
“We are today commemorating, with great enthusiasm and pride, the anniversary of the day the founder of the Republic of Türkiye, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, was accorded the title of Gazi (Veteran) on September 19, 1921, by the Turkish Grand National Assembly and the Turkish nation.
Throughout history, the Turkish nation defended their flag, freedom and future irrespective of circumstances, and proclaimed many States across different geographies they conquered. Our nation has always followed the path paved by our beloved martyrs and veterans who made the ultimate sacrifices fighting for their country.
Today, with the inspiration inherited from our ancestors, we, the Turkish Cypriot People, are defending our sovereignty and freedom under the roof of our own State.
In our struggle for independence, sovereignty and freedom that has been continuing for more than a century in Cyprus, the Turkish Cypriot people have shown an epic resistance in the most horrendous conditions against EOKA terrorism, and they defended the cause even whilst enduring the massacre of unarmed innocent civilians including women and children. It is not possible for us to abandon this holy struggle, nor forget our martyrs and veterans.
After years of brave resistance by the Turkish Cypriot people, Türkiye, exercising its obligation enshrined in international treaties as one of the Guarantor powers, undertook the Turkish Peace Operation, on July 20, 1974. Following 11 years of suffering persecution, hardship and atrocities, with the intervention of Türkiye and the arrival of Turkish forces, Turkish Cypriot People gained their freedom and real peace and prosperity came to the island of Cyprus.
It must not be forgotten that had the Cyprus Peace Operation not been carried out by Türkiye, there would have been a second Cretan disaster and not a single Turkish person would have been left alive in Cyprus and the island would have been annexed to Greece, as has been the case for Crete.
Furthermore, as well as annihilation of the Turkish Cypriots, there would also have been a massacre of all the Greek Cypriot putschists who opposed the July 15 fascist coup, and the Junta Administration in Greece would not have been brought down. It is necessary to evaluate the operation in this aspect as well.
Our greatest responsibility to our veterans, martyrs and children is to strengthen, develop and embrace our State.
With these thoughts and feelings, I commemorate all our martyrs and deceased veterans with gratitude. May they all rest in eternal peace and may the veterans have healthy, long and prosperous lives.”
“We are today commemorating, with great enthusiasm and pride, the anniversary of the day the founder of the Republic of Türkiye, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, was accorded the title of Gazi (Veteran) on September 19, 1921, by the Turkish Grand National Assembly and the Turkish nation.
Throughout history, the Turkish nation defended their flag, freedom and future irrespective of circumstances, and proclaimed many States across different geographies they conquered. Our nation has always followed the path paved by our beloved martyrs and veterans who made the ultimate sacrifices fighting for their country.
Today, with the inspiration inherited from our ancestors, we, the Turkish Cypriot People, are defending our sovereignty and freedom under the roof of our own State.
In our struggle for independence, sovereignty and freedom that has been continuing for more than a century in Cyprus, the Turkish Cypriot people have shown an epic resistance in the most horrendous conditions against EOKA terrorism, and they defended the cause even whilst enduring the massacre of unarmed innocent civilians including women and children. It is not possible for us to abandon this holy struggle, nor forget our martyrs and veterans.
After years of brave resistance by the Turkish Cypriot people, Türkiye, exercising its obligation enshrined in international treaties as one of the Guarantor powers, undertook the Turkish Peace Operation, on July 20, 1974. Following 11 years of suffering persecution, hardship and atrocities, with the intervention of Türkiye and the arrival of Turkish forces, Turkish Cypriot People gained their freedom and real peace and prosperity came to the island of Cyprus.
It must not be forgotten that had the Cyprus Peace Operation not been carried out by Türkiye, there would have been a second Cretan disaster and not a single Turkish person would have been left alive in Cyprus and the island would have been annexed to Greece, as has been the case for Crete.
Furthermore, as well as annihilation of the Turkish Cypriots, there would also have been a massacre of all the Greek Cypriot putschists who opposed the July 15 fascist coup, and the Junta Administration in Greece would not have been brought down. It is necessary to evaluate the operation in this aspect as well.
Our greatest responsibility to our veterans, martyrs and children is to strengthen, develop and embrace our State.
With these thoughts and feelings, I commemorate all our martyrs and deceased veterans with gratitude. May they all rest in eternal peace and may the veterans have healthy, long and prosperous lives.”