Memorial events were held in northern Cyprus to commemorate the events of the “Bloody Christmas” of 1963.
Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz said that Turkey will never forget the victims of the events of those days, blaming members of the EOKA organization, which he called “terrorist,” for the attacks on Turkish Cypriots.
“This is a black spot in our history. Those responsible for these atrocities have not been brought to justice,” he added.
According to the vice president, the Turkish Cypriot resistance, with the help of Turkey, ultimately ensured rights and freedoms. “The Turkish Cypriot people, who never bowed to the cruelty and oppression to which they were subjected, achieved victory in their struggle with the unwavering support of their homeland Turkey and entered history with their worthy resistance.”
Memorial events were held at the Ataturk Cultural Center in occupied Nicosia. TRNC leader Ersin Tatar noted that the events of 1963 marked the beginning of the first pages in the history of the Turkish Cypriots as a separate state.
Tatar paid special attention to the “peacekeeping operation” of 1974, calling it the beginning of a new era for the Turkish Cypriots. He believes that the sovereignty and existence of the TRNC are intended to maintain a stable situation in the region.
The Turkish Cypriot leader said that any agreements that do not take into account the rights of the Turkish community will not be respected. He expressed confidence in the importance of the presence of the Turkish army in Cyprus as a guarantor of security. “We can't trust anyone. What we can trust is a solid deal, with the guarantees of our homeland Turkey. We can trust that the Turkish army will continue its presence here as a deterrent,” concluded Ersin Tatar.
Source: cyprus-mail.com
