The 48th anniversary of the Erenköy Resistance was remembered with a special ceremony at the Erenköy Martyrdom this morning.

President Derviş Eroğlu, Speaker of Parliament Hasan Bozer, Prime Minister İrsen Küçük and other state, government and military officials attended the ceremony.

The ceremony at the Erenköy Martyrdom began with the laying of wreaths and this was followed by a minute’s silence in memory of the martyrs. Flags were raised to the national anthem and the special book was signed. The importance of the day was emphasized once again with speeches at the ceremony.

In his address at the ceremony President Derviş Eroğlu underlined the importance of the Erenköy Resistance in the Cyprus Turkish people’s history.

He said “We achieved these days with our selfless fighting spirit, the Erenköy Resistance was one of the most critical turning points for the Cyprus Turks”.

He said the Erenköy resistance is proof of the Cyprus Turkish people’s determination to exist on these lands with their heads held high and in freedom and motherland Turkey’s sensitivity towards protecting the existence of the Cyprus Turkish people and their rights at whatever the cost on the island.

The President said “it is not possible for people to live freely without knowing their true history therefore the history of the Cyprus Turks should be explained properly to the youth.”

Touching upon the Cyprus issue, the President said despite the Greek Cypriot side’s intransigent attitude during the Cyprus negotiations process, it has taken over the EU term presidency.

“No matter what our political views are we will never give up on our statehood. Following the presidential election in South Cyprus, the current situation of the negotiation process will be clarified and a time frame will be determined. Otherwise new steps will have to be taken by the Cyprus Turkish Side. But once again I call on the Greek Cypriot Side to work towards a just solution” he added.