President Ersin Tatar participates in ceremony held in Girne commemorating the Limassol Resistance: “Our expectation is that the Greek Cypriot side puts an end to its provocations and responds positively to our calls for dialogue."
“We will never forget our Limassol martyrs. . . The Limassol Resistance has come to be known as the ‘Second Plevne Resistance’ in our history”
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President Ersin Tatar participated in the ceremony held at the Limassol-Girne Martyrs and Freedom Monument in Girne – where tributes were made for Turkish Cypriot martyrs who lost their lives during the resistance.
Greek Cypriot attacks on Turkish Cypriots in Limassol and its surrounding villages had started on the evening of February 10, 1964, as part of the objective to unite the island of Cyprus with Greece.
In his speech at the ceremony, President Tatar said: “We are here today to pay tribute to our martyrs who lost their lives during the struggle for our existence. I express my gratitude to our martyrs and to our veterans.”
“Our heroic mujahideen who served under the Turkish Resistance Organisation (TMT) and martyrs like Şago will never be forgotten for their legendary acts which they put forward in the best way possible during the resistance," the President said.
President Tatar stated that the Limassol struggle, which was waged under the leadership of TMT, could be compared to the legendary struggle of the Second Plevne Resistance, adding that “this sacred struggle shows the grave importance that was waged to defend our sovereignty and independence, in cooperation with Motherland Turkey”.
Adding that the Greek Cypriot leadership had used the ‘Republic of Cyprus’ partnership state as a “springboard for Enosis”, after forcing the Turkish Cypriot partners out of the state apparatus at gunpoint, the President added:
“The Bloody Christmas attacks were instigated by Greek Cypriot forces on December 21, 1963 with the aim of anhiliating the Turkish Cypriot people and making Cyprus a Hellenic island in line with the Akritas Plan. The Turkish quarter of Limassol and surrounding Turkish villages were targeted in the attacks that started on the evening of February 10, 1964, which continued for many days. The soldiers of the TMT put forward a relentless struggle against these attacks. They did not surrender, but put forth a legendary defence at the cost of becoming martyred. We will not forget our martyrs who lost their lives in the struggle. . . for the preservation of our Turkishness and identity.”
The President added that the “Greek Cypriot mentality has not changed," adding: "They continue to perceive the Turkish Cypriot people as being a minority, who do not have a right to equality and sovereignty. They want us to accept the abolishment of Turkey’s guarantor rights and the removal of Turkish troops from Cyprus. We did not submit to these impositions in the past, and we will not accept these today. We will never give up our State, our sovereignty, the guarantees of Motherland Turkey and the Turkish troops. We will not go back to the dark days of pre-1974.”
The President addded that the negotiation processes, which started in 1968 in order to find a solution to the Cyprus problem on a federal basis, have all ended in failure because of the negative and uncompromising attitude of the Greek Cypriot side, as were seen in the UN comprehensive settlement (Annan) plan of 2004; and again in Crans Montana in 2017.
Stating that the goal of the Turkish Cypriot side is to reach a just, permanent and sustainable settlement in Cyprus, the President said: “While we reiterate our calls for positive dialogue in this direction, it is concerning that the Greek Cypriot side continues to undertake acts of provocation aimed at creating tension. Our hope and expectation is for a positive response to our calls for dialogue.”
Commemorating the 58th anniversary of the Limassol Resistance, President Tatar concluded: “May our martyrs rest in peace. We will never forget their sacrifice and the heroic struggle that was waged."
Greek Cypriot attacks on Turkish Cypriots in Limassol and its surrounding villages had started on the evening of February 10, 1964, as part of the objective to unite the island of Cyprus with Greece.
In his speech at the ceremony, President Tatar said: “We are here today to pay tribute to our martyrs who lost their lives during the struggle for our existence. I express my gratitude to our martyrs and to our veterans.”
“Our heroic mujahideen who served under the Turkish Resistance Organisation (TMT) and martyrs like Şago will never be forgotten for their legendary acts which they put forward in the best way possible during the resistance," the President said.
President Tatar stated that the Limassol struggle, which was waged under the leadership of TMT, could be compared to the legendary struggle of the Second Plevne Resistance, adding that “this sacred struggle shows the grave importance that was waged to defend our sovereignty and independence, in cooperation with Motherland Turkey”.
Adding that the Greek Cypriot leadership had used the ‘Republic of Cyprus’ partnership state as a “springboard for Enosis”, after forcing the Turkish Cypriot partners out of the state apparatus at gunpoint, the President added:
“The Bloody Christmas attacks were instigated by Greek Cypriot forces on December 21, 1963 with the aim of anhiliating the Turkish Cypriot people and making Cyprus a Hellenic island in line with the Akritas Plan. The Turkish quarter of Limassol and surrounding Turkish villages were targeted in the attacks that started on the evening of February 10, 1964, which continued for many days. The soldiers of the TMT put forward a relentless struggle against these attacks. They did not surrender, but put forth a legendary defence at the cost of becoming martyred. We will not forget our martyrs who lost their lives in the struggle. . . for the preservation of our Turkishness and identity.”
The President added that the “Greek Cypriot mentality has not changed," adding: "They continue to perceive the Turkish Cypriot people as being a minority, who do not have a right to equality and sovereignty. They want us to accept the abolishment of Turkey’s guarantor rights and the removal of Turkish troops from Cyprus. We did not submit to these impositions in the past, and we will not accept these today. We will never give up our State, our sovereignty, the guarantees of Motherland Turkey and the Turkish troops. We will not go back to the dark days of pre-1974.”
The President addded that the negotiation processes, which started in 1968 in order to find a solution to the Cyprus problem on a federal basis, have all ended in failure because of the negative and uncompromising attitude of the Greek Cypriot side, as were seen in the UN comprehensive settlement (Annan) plan of 2004; and again in Crans Montana in 2017.
Stating that the goal of the Turkish Cypriot side is to reach a just, permanent and sustainable settlement in Cyprus, the President said: “While we reiterate our calls for positive dialogue in this direction, it is concerning that the Greek Cypriot side continues to undertake acts of provocation aimed at creating tension. Our hope and expectation is for a positive response to our calls for dialogue.”
Commemorating the 58th anniversary of the Limassol Resistance, President Tatar concluded: “May our martyrs rest in peace. We will never forget their sacrifice and the heroic struggle that was waged."