Hundreds attend Ozker Ozgur’s funeral
HUNDREDS of mourners, including Greek Cypriot politicians, yesterday attended the funeral of veteran Turkish Cypriot politician Ozker Ozgur who died on Tuesday after a battle with cancer.
Among those who attended the funeral at the Kemal Ataturk Cultural Centre in Nicosia north were AKEL general-secretary and House President Demetris Christofias, opposition DISY leader Nicos Anastassiades, DIKO acting chairman Nicos Cleanthous, United Democrats chairman and honorary chairman Michalis Papapetrou and George Vassiliou, and EDEK leader Yiannakis Omirou.
Ozgur who died aged 65, became involved in left-wing politics in 1966 eventually becoming a member of the founding “TRNC parliament’’ formed in 1975. In 1976 he was elected leader of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP), a position he held for the next 20 years.
After leaving his CTP post, Ozgur continued his political career with the United Cyprus Movement where he served as Foreign Affairs Secretary and had very close ties with AKEL.
Speaking at the service, a tearful Christofias said Ozgur’s death was a big loss for both communities in Cyprus because the Turkish Cypriot politician had always envisioned a common homeland.
“We felt grief and sorrow for the premature loss of our beloved patriot, a leader of the left, friend and compatriot,” said Christofias. “Feelings of sadness engulf all Greek Cypriot politicians who collaborated with him, and not only politicians but I’m sure the entire Greek Cypriot community.”
Christofias said Ozgur’s photograph already adorned the walls of the AKEL offices alongside those of past party leaders, and that soon more would be done to preserve his memory.
He said those that knew Ozgur, from both the left-wing and right-wing, would remember him with affection for his calm demeanour and a smile that exuded humanity and genuine interest in other people.
“He felt the pain of each Cypriot and his feelings were sincere. In the most difficult times he raised morale and even brushed of threats to his life,” said Christofias. “I feel grateful that he honoured me with his friendship.”
In his last public interview in September, Ozgur said: ”I’ve always believed that Turkish and Greek Cypriots always had the goodwill, but not the leaderships unfortunately. If the leaders were determined to keep Cyprus together as a republic, as a bicommunal republic, they could do it despite all the difficulties, because the people were ready.”
‘TRNC Prime Minister’ Ferdi Soyer, who also spoke at the service, said the Turkish Cypriot would continue the fight for a Cyprus solution on the basis of the equality of the two sides.
Ozgur’s funeral procession travelled from the Ataturk centre to the ‘parliament’ where a special ceremony was held attended by present and current Turkish Cypriot leaders Mehmet Ali Talat and Rauf Denktash respectively.
After that the procession moved on to the offices of the CTP and the United Cyprus Movement before the burial at a Nicosia cemetery.
