A state ceremony was held yesterday (21 December) within the framework of "21-25 December, Struggle and Martyrs Week", and the martyrs who were massacred during Turkish Cypriots’ independence and existence struggle were commemorated.

President Mehmet Ali Talat, The Speaker of the Republic’s Assembly Fatma Ekenoğlu, Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer, Founding President Rauf. R. Denktas, Turkish Ambassador to Lefkosa Türkekul Kurttekin, Turkish Cypriot Peace Forces Commander Lieutenant General Hayri Kıvrıkoğlu, Commander of 28. Division Major General Sabri Demirezen and the Security Forces Commander Major General Mehmet Eroz participated the ceremonies at Martyrs Monument in Lefkosa.

President Talat on signing the Special Book of the Martyrs Monument wrote:

"Our beloved martyrs,

The sacrifices you made and your determined stance during the Turkish Cypriot People’s existence struggle helped us to come to these days. Your courage and determination have brought us to a powerful position to explain the realities in Cyprus to the whole world.

The stage we have reached in studies for integrating with the world, will overcome the fanatical resistance of Greek Cypriots. Today’s generations, with the inspiration and the power they take from you, our ancestors, are working on a completely different platform and under different conditions in order to reach this objective. For you to lie in peace, the Turkish Cypriots will continue to exist and live a better life.

With these feelings and opinions, I remember you with respect."

Minister of Foreign Affairs Turgay Avcı yesterday (21 December) issued a message for the 21-25 December Struggle and Martyrs’ Week.

Foreign Minister Avcı in his message pointed out that when the history was taken into consideration; the Turkish Cypriot people’s justness in their struggle and insistence on Turkey’s guarantee and bi-zonal settlement had been once more proved.

Underlining that the inhuman treatments by the Greek Cypriots against the Turkish Cypriots for achieving Enosis in 1963, should always be remembered, Avcı said despite all pressures, the Turkish Cypriot people continued their struggle and reached today.

Avcı pointing out that Turkish Cypriots’ right to live and exist should be respected, said during the period when the Turkish Cypriot side was desiring a just settlement based on equality under the roof of the UN, the UN member states should behave in accordance with these realities.

Avcı said: “Our struggle for existence which has started in 1963, is continuing at a different dimension today. Without giving up our struggle, we will do our best to help the Turkish Cypriot people to reach their desired position."

Adding that in the 43^rd anniversary of the struggle, which started in 21 December 1963, they were remembering with respect the martyrs who were massacred in Lefkoşa, Ayvasıl, Larnaka and Kaymaklı, Avcı reiterated his trust to Turkish Cypriot Peace Forces and Security Forces Commandership.

The Autonomous Missing Persons Committee yesterday (21 December) carried out its 93rd session, which was the last meeting of 2006. According to the statement issued by the Committee, "160 set of remains belonging to missing persons have been analyzed and prepared for DNA testing".

In the statement the studies started in 2006 were evaluated.

Reminding that during the year 2006, the Project of Exhumation, Identity Identification and Handing Over The Remains of Missing Persons To Their Families has been implemented, the statement said that this study was carried out by Turkish and Greek Cypriot scientists, under the supervision of the EAAF (Argentinean Forensic Anthropology Team).

It was pointed out that the remains, which were found in various places in the island, were being analyzed in the Anthropology Laboratory established in the buffer zone and a bi-communal team was carrying out the DNA studies.