Retired General Şükrü Sarıışık and retired Lieutenant General Ömer Paç who both served in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) in the past were received by the Speaker of Parliament Zorlu Töre on Tuesday.

Speaking during the visit, General Şükrü Sarıışık said that he had the privilege of serving with the late leader of the Turkish Cypriot Peoples’ struggle for freedom, Dr Fazıl Küçük and the late Founding President Rauf Raif Denktaş.

He said that he was always proud and happy to have served in the TRNC.

Retired Lieutenant General Ömer Paç for his part said that the TRNC’s legislative assembly was the guarantee and symbol of the TRNC’s independence.

Also speaking the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of the TRNC Zorlu Töre said that Turkish Cypriots had achieved freedom following the arrival of the Turkish troops on July 20, 1974.

“The Turkish Armed Forces are indispensible for the Turkish Cypriot people. We could have shared the same fate of that of Crete if the Turkish forces had left Cyprus. Cyprus could have become another Greek island, which is why Türkiye’s guarantees are vital for us,” he warned.

Underlining the importance of preserving and upholding the TRNC, Töre said that the admission of the TRNC into the Organisation of Turkic States was just the beginning and that similar developments will follow soon.

Töre also expressed his gratitude to Türkiye for protecting and defending the rights of Turkish Cypriots at every international platform.

“Once again I would like to thank both of you for your past services and contributions to the TRNC and the Turkish Cypriot people,” he concluded.