― 20 февраля 2024 г.

Commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the birthday of Mr. Rauf Denktas, a statesman and artist

The 100th anniversary of the birthday of Mr. Rauf Denktaş, the founding President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, was commemorated in a special event held in TURKSOY Headquarters. The event more particularly stressed the  artistic personality  of the late President.

In the  opening speech he delivered at the meeting, the  Ambassador of the TRNC to Ankara, H. E.. Mr. Ismet Konukoğlu emphasised Denktaş's multifaceted personality and said: "He had a superior diplomatic intelligence, he was brave, he was at the forefront of a nation's struggle for existence."

In his speech, TURKSOY Secretary General Sultan Raev emphasised Denktaş's honourable struggle for the existence, integrity and independence of his country and said: "Denktaş was an exceptional man of action who embodied all the virtues of  a human being and a family, and he will live forever in the hearts of the Turkish Cypriot People and the Turkish Nation." Secretary General Raev also stated that Mr. Denktaş made significant contributions to the common culture of the Turkic World with his artistic identity.

Mr. Cevdet Yılmaz, the Vice President of the Republic of Türkiye, who also took the floor said: "We have gathered here to commemorate Mr. Denktaş not only as a statesman but also as an artist. Indeed, Denktaş' most important work of art is the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus."

The  President of the TRNC Mr. Ersin Tatar said: “The Turkish Cypriot People is independent and free. The Turkic World is a single united entity when necessary.  With the greetings of our President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the President of Azerbaijan Mr. Ilham Aliyev stated that he will host me as a Head of State in Shusha. This  is the legacy of our late President Mr.  Denktaş.”

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Culture, Youth and Environment of the TRNC Mr. Fikri Ataoğlu stated that Mr. Denktaş was not only a statesman but also a peace advocate and underlined that "Rauf Denktaş was a great leader who pioneered the establishment of the TRNC.

The Former Deputy Prime Minister of the TRNC, Serdar Denktaş who also said a few words at the event stressed  that his father's real art was diplomacy and said, "His wit and courage in defending our homeland is the most important feature which  should be mentioned besides his poetry and photography."

After watching the short documentary film on Mr. Rauf Denktaş shot by TRT Avaz, Mehmet Gökyiğit, who took the floor in the panel on Rauf Denktaş's life and artistic work, talked about Rauf Denktaş's art and photographs, while Şirin Zaimağaoğlu read examples of poems written by Denktaş. In his speech, Dr. Yakup Ömeroğlu, the President of the Eurasian Authors' Union, underlined that Rauf Denktaş wrote a novel and a large collection of memoires consisting of eleven volumes and mentioned the importance of these works in terms of our recent political history.

The commemorative event ended with the presentation of plaquettes and various souvenirs to the participants who expressed their wish as to the further continuation of  such cultural activities carried out by TURKSOY.