Osman Örek, one of the leading figures in the Turkish Cypriot Peoples’ struggle for existence who had also served as the Speaker of the TRNC Republic’s Assembly and as Prime Minister was remembered today on the 23rd anniversary of his death at a ceremony held at his graveside.

Örek had also served as defence minister in the 1960 Cyprus Republic’s first cabinet.

The ceremony held on Thursday was attended by President Ersin Tatar, Prime Minister Faiz Sucuoğlu, the Turkish Ambassador to Lefkoşa Ali Murat Başçeri, the Commander of the Turkish Peace Forces Command Major General Sezai Öztürk, the Commander of the Cyprus Turkish Security Forces Command Major General Zorlu Topaloğlu, the Commander of the 38th Division Brigadier General Nihat Ergün, some ministers, the Mayor of Lefkoşa Mehmet Harmancı, and representatives of institutions and organizations as well as his family.

A minutes silence was observed followed by the hoisting of the flags to the national anthem.

Speeches were also delivered at the ceremony by President Ersin Tatar and Osman Örek’s daughter Yeşim Örek highlighting the great services given by the late politician to the Turkish Cypriot people.

In his speech, President Tatar noted that Osman Örek was one of the symbolic names of the Turkish Cypriot peoples history.

Reminding that Osman Örek, Dr. Fazıl Küçük and Rauf Raif Denktaş were remembered as three friends, he referred to the important legal struggle they waged for the Turkish Cypriot people to become equal constituent partners in Cyprus against the Greek-Greek Cypriot attacks to annex the island to Greece pre 1960.

“If we can carry out a policy based on the two co-existing equal sovereign states today it is thanks to these precious names” Tatar stressed.