President Ersin Tatar attends memorial ceremony at the Taşkent Martyrs’ Monument
“If we live today in peace and security, we owe it to our martyrs”
Photos
President Ersin Tatar, speaking at the memorial ceremony, pledged that neither the past nor the sacrifices of the martyrs would ever be forgotten, and that their memory would remain forever in the hearts of the Turkish Cypriot people.
Recalling the massacres that have scarred Cyprus since 1955, he lamented that the world stood by in silence as these atrocities unfolded.
“For us, the turning point that restored our lives and our future was the Cyprus Peace Operation of 20 July 1974,” President Tatar said, noting that in its aftermath, tremendous efforts were made to achieve a settlement on the island. He paid tribute to Founding President Rauf Raif Denktaş for his "tireless work in pursuit of a settlement", and to the Republic of Türkiye "for her unwavering guidance and support".
President Tatar stressed that no settlement was possible because “the mentality on the other side sought nothing less than our eradication from this island and its annexation to Greece (Enosis)”. Citing the massacres in Taşkent, Tatlısu, and Terazi, President Tatar stated that official records identify the perpetrators as police and soldiers.
“These crimes have gone down in history as unpunished murders," the President said, adding: "The Greek Cypriot administration never acted to hold the perpetrators to account -- this is their shame. What happened here was barbarism and a crime against humanity, the like of which is rarely seen in the world. It is utterly unacceptable for those who claim to uphold civilization to remain silent in the face of such brutality.”
Turning to current events, President Tatar drew parallels with Gaza and other regions where the oppressed are still subjected to injustice while much of the world watches in silence.
Paying his respects to the martyrs and expressing deep gratitude to the veterans, President Tatar said: “If today we are able to live together in peace and security, it is because of the sacrifices of our martyrs.”
He reaffirmed that any future settlement must be based on the cooperation of two sovereign States, the continuation of the guarantee of Türkiye, and the presence of Turkish armed forces on the island as a deterrent—non-negotiable red lines for the Turkish Cypriot side.
Concluding his remarks, President Tatar repeated his vow that the past and the martyrs will never be forgotten, and that their legacy will always be honored in the hearts of the people.
Recalling the massacres that have scarred Cyprus since 1955, he lamented that the world stood by in silence as these atrocities unfolded.
“For us, the turning point that restored our lives and our future was the Cyprus Peace Operation of 20 July 1974,” President Tatar said, noting that in its aftermath, tremendous efforts were made to achieve a settlement on the island. He paid tribute to Founding President Rauf Raif Denktaş for his "tireless work in pursuit of a settlement", and to the Republic of Türkiye "for her unwavering guidance and support".
President Tatar stressed that no settlement was possible because “the mentality on the other side sought nothing less than our eradication from this island and its annexation to Greece (Enosis)”. Citing the massacres in Taşkent, Tatlısu, and Terazi, President Tatar stated that official records identify the perpetrators as police and soldiers.
“These crimes have gone down in history as unpunished murders," the President said, adding: "The Greek Cypriot administration never acted to hold the perpetrators to account -- this is their shame. What happened here was barbarism and a crime against humanity, the like of which is rarely seen in the world. It is utterly unacceptable for those who claim to uphold civilization to remain silent in the face of such brutality.”
Turning to current events, President Tatar drew parallels with Gaza and other regions where the oppressed are still subjected to injustice while much of the world watches in silence.
Paying his respects to the martyrs and expressing deep gratitude to the veterans, President Tatar said: “If today we are able to live together in peace and security, it is because of the sacrifices of our martyrs.”
He reaffirmed that any future settlement must be based on the cooperation of two sovereign States, the continuation of the guarantee of Türkiye, and the presence of Turkish armed forces on the island as a deterrent—non-negotiable red lines for the Turkish Cypriot side.
Concluding his remarks, President Tatar repeated his vow that the past and the martyrs will never be forgotten, and that their legacy will always be honored in the hearts of the people.