The Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB) held an event entitled “Denktaş’ Life and Objective in My Observations” to commemorate late Rauf Denktaş, the founding President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, on the seventh anniversary of his death. As part of the event, the Cyprus issue and Denktaş’ life which was filled with struggles were emphasised. Abdullah Eren, President of the Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB), Kemal Köprülü, Ambassador of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) to Ankara, late Denktaş’ fellow-worker Işılay Arkan and a crowded group of audience attended the event.

Stating that the TRNC is geographically very close to Turkey, President Eren said that it had important historical and cultural ties to Turkey as well. Underlying that Denktaş has served the case of TRNC  throughout his life, Eren said: “Denktaş conveyed his successors the legacy of sovereignty for the TRNC even on his deathbed. He has spent a really enduring life. Besides being a politician, Denktaş has contained many identities within himself, as he was also a father, spouse, poet, writer, photographer and lawyer. 

Stating that Denktaş has devoted his entire life to the struggle of Turkish Cypriots, Köprülü said that his exceptional place would always remain in our hearts and minds. Speaking about the latest situation on the Cyprus issue, Köprülü said, “He argues that peace could be hardly brought into the island of Cyprus, unless the Greek Cypriots change their mentality. There is currently no negotiation between the two sides. If there will be a new negotiation process, it should not be open-ended.”

Sharing the common cause with late Denktaş, Işılay Arkan said that Denktaş was really a man with a cause, who has even pushed his family into the background towards that end. Stating that it isn’t easy to describe Denktaş, Arkan stressed that he was among unforgettable leaders both to Turkey and Turkish Cypriots.

The commemoration ended, after President Eren presented plaques to Arkan and Köprülü.