The Ayvasıl-Türkeli Martyrs who were killed in 1963 were commemorated with a ceremony.

Speaking at the ceremony, President Ersin Tatar called for unity.

21 Turkish Cypriots murdered by Greek Cypriots in the Ayvasıl village in 1963 were commemorated with a ceremony held in the Tekke Bahçe.

The ceremony, which started with the laying of wreaths, continued with a minutes of silence, shots being fired in respect and flags being raised to the reciting of the national anthem.

Speaking at the commemorative event President Ersin Tatar said that the martyrs’ only expectation from the Turkish Cypriot people is to protect the state.

He said that despite all the injustices suffered by the Turkish Cypriot people, a great struggle is being waged to perpetuate the state.

“If we are the owner of a state in the Eastern Mediterranean and the name of that state is the TRNC, all of this is the success we have gained due to the sacrifices we have made and the price we have paid” said Tatar.

Noting that that the country had suffered a lot, martyrs were sacrificed and great prices were paid, Tatar underlined that these suffereings will never be forgotten.