President Ersin Tatar has issued a message to commemorate the first commander of the Turkish Resistance Organisation (TMT) Colonel Ali Rıza Vuruşkan on the 43rd anniversary of his death.
“Once again we remember the legendary commander Colonel Ali Rıza Vuruşkan for his services and sacrifices,” Tatar said in his message.
He reminded that the late commander code named “Ali Conan” had arrived on the island on August 1, 1958 under the disguise of an inspector for the Türkiye İş-Bank.
“Shortly after his arrival, the TMT was transformed into a strong, decisive and unbreakable resistance organisation. Vuruşkan who left the island in 1960 later returned together with the founding President Rauf Raif Denktaş on August 1, 1964 coming ashore in Erenköy, this time with the code name “Akıncı”. There he commanded the war and helped put up a resistance against the Greek-Greek Cypriot duo,” President Tatar said.
Tatar concluded his message by stating that the late Ali Rıza Vuruşkan will never be forgotten.
“The inspiration he gave to all of us will continue to live on. I remember with respect all those who sacrificed their lives for the national cause. May they rest in peace,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Cyprus Turkish Security Forces (GKK) also issued a message to mark Vuruşkan’s anniversary.
The message said that the late TMT commander and his services to the Turkish Cypriot people will never be forgotten.