President Ersin Tatar attends the commemoration ceremony at the Lefkoşa Martyrs' Monument this morning for the 21-25 December National Struggle and Martyrs' Week
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President Ersin Tatar attended the commemoration ceremony held at the Lefkoşa Martyrs' Monument this morning for the 21-25 December National Struggle and Martyrs' Week.
President Ersin Tatar has paid tribute to the sacrifices and the hard-fought struggle of the Turkish Cypriot People in his commemoration message of 21-25 December National Struggle and Martyrs’ Week.
Wreaths were laid in order of the protocol in front of the monument at the ceremony which started at 9.30am. Following the observation of a minute’s silence as a mark of respect for the martyrs, the flags of the Republic of Türkiye and TRNC were hoisted, and the National Anthem was played.
The ceremony ended with the signing of the Special Memorial Book, where President Tatar wrote the following:
“You have reached the rank of martyrdom by sacrificing your lives for the sake of protecting the honour, freedom and independence of the Turkish Cypriot People in this land which we know as our homeland. You showed great resistance under the leadership of the Turkish Resistance Organisation against the Greek-Greek Cypriot attacks, which started 59 years ago, with the aim of exterminating the Turkish Cypriot People and making Cyprus a Hellenic island. You fought to preserve the Turkish presence and character in Cyprus, and you prevented the island from being annexed to Greece.
After the epic resistance you have waged and sacrifices you have made including giving your lives, the Turkish Cypriot People today live free and sovereign in our own homeland, under the roof of our own State. We have never forgotten our beloved martyrs and we will never forget them. You will live in the hearts of the Turkish Cypriot people forever.
As we commemorate all our martyrs with gratitude, we are honoured to bow respectfully in your spiritual presence. May Allah bless your souls."