MURATAGA, SANDALLAR AND ATLILAR MARTYRS COMMEMORATED 

TALAT: “TURKISH CYPRIOTS WILL NEVER GIVE UP THESE TERRITORIES” 

            Within the framework of the ceremonies held during the 32nd Anniversary of the Second Leg of 1974 Peace Operation, Martyrs of Murataga-Sandallar and Atlilar, who were massacred, were commemorated yesterday (14 August). 

            Speaking during the ceremony held at the martyrdom of Murataga-Sandallar, father of a martyr Huseyin Nazım Aslanturk explained that until the second leg of the Peace Operation started on 14 August 1974, the Greek Cypriots tortured the Turkish Cypriots whom they captured and did many other disgraceful and inhuman things and that they massacred many Turkish Cypriots in various villages including Murataga-Sandallar and Atlilar. Aslanturk stating that during the massacres 37 Turkish Cypriots in Atlilar, and 89 Turkish Cypriots in Murataga and Sandallar were killed, said: 

“As the father of a martyr, I wish the continuation of the peace provided to us by the Turkish Armed Forces forever, the recognition of our sovereignty and the preservation of the TRNC, the continuation of Turkey’s guarantorship and the achievement of peace on the island” 

            President Mehmet Ali Talat speaking during the ceremony stressed that the brutality and murder experienced 32 years ago had put the Turkish Cypriot people through great pain and difficulties. 

            Pointing out that the brutality was extremely dishonorable and painful and a matter of concern for the future of Cyprus, President Talat said everyone by taking these events into consideration, should acknowledge the ways to be more secure in the future and should guarantee this security in a possible settlement in Cyprus. 

            President Talat underlined that this was the most important lesson to learn from the past and reminded that the Turkish Cypriots suffered a lot until 1974. 

            President stated that the Greek Cypriot administration that was acting under the title of "the Republic of Cyprus” was in fact acting totally against the laws, the treaty of establishment and treaty of guarantee and alliance and the constitution. 

            Stressing that the people wanted a strong and secure peace in Cyprus, which would not bring back the pains of the past and jeopardize the future, President Talat said: “We are spending every effort for this and will continue to do so. We cannot and will never accept the Turkish Cypriots to face the similar dangers” 

            President Talat also stating that the Turkish Cypriots would never give up the territories of the TRNC, people were strongly attached to their territory, fought for their territory and died for it, said: “We will work together for the coming generations to live happier and better in these territories”. 

            Later attending to the liberation ceremony of Serdarlı village within the framework of the ceremonies for the 32nd Anniversary of the Second Leg of 1974 Peace Operation, President Mehmet Ali Talat during his speech stressed the Turkish Cypriot side’s commitment to the agreement reached on 8 July with the Greek Cypriot leader, which included the identification of the solution principles and the procedure for the settlement of the Cyprus issue. 

            President added that the agreement stressed the political equality of the Turkish Cypriots and that the settlement of the Cyprus problem should be bi-zonal, bi-communal and based on political equality. 

            Continuing, President Talat said following the membership of Greece and the Greek Cypriot side to the European Union, the EU has lost its neutrality in dealing with the settlement of the Cyprus issue. Talat added that the settlement to be found for the Cyprus issue which would be on the basis of political equality should only be based on the UN and stressed that the state to be established with a settlement would not be the continuation of the Republic of Cyprus, but a new state.