TRIBUTES were paid in northern Cyprus yesterday to former Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash who died on Friday night, aged 88.
One of the first to react to the news of his death was Turkish President Abdullah Gul who said he and Turkey were “deeply saddened” and that Denktash’s death was “a loss, not only for Turkish Cypriots but for all Turks”.
“Our people have lost a hero,” he said.
Gul’s words were echoed by his Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan who said Dentash had “devoted his life so that the Turkish Cypriots could live on their land in peace and prosperity”.
“He has an exceptional place in the heart of the Turkish nation,” he added.
Turkish Cypriots proclaimed a week of mourning yesterday lasting from 11 am yesterday until Friday evening.
After a ceremony tomorrow outside the Nicosia hospital where Denktash died late on Friday after a long illness, the former leader’s body will lie in ‘state’ at the ‘presidential palace’ until Tuesday morning, Eroglu said.
It will then be taken to the Selimiye mosque in northern Nicosia on a gun carriage before burial at a cemetery to be determined by his family, he added.
Denktash’s politician son, Serdar Denktash told the press his father was “a fighter” who even during his illness “never gave up”. His father, he said, would now be reunited with his three of his children who predeceased him.
“He amazed his doctors, but this time he fell weak and God took him to his side. He has now left the Turkish Cypriots and the people of Anatolia, and has joined the martyrs. We are proud of him and we will miss him,” he said, adding that “every word he whispered in my ear during his illness will be my guiding light”.
Yesterday mosques across the north held special prayers for the dead leader.
Current Turkish Cypriot leader Dervish Eroglu said minutes after Denktash’s death that the late leader had been “a fighter for freedom and sovereignty who believed in his people”.
“The past he forged will never be forgotten,” he said, adding that Denktash had led the Turkish Cypriot from the status of community to that of a nation.
Eroglu also said that while known as a fighter, he was also a man who for many years sought a solution to the Cyprus problem. He was also a man who could come to agreements, he said.
“He was a popular, humble and sincere person, both in politics and in private life. It is the duty of all Turkish Cypriots to tell future generations of his values and achievements,” he added.
‘Prime minister’ of the breakaway state Irsen Kucuk also gave his condolences saying Denktash was “as good a person as he was a politician” and that he would do all he could to “preserve his works in the memory of the people”.
Newspapers in the north, including those who opposed Denktash’s hardline views, offered condolences to the former leader’s family. Left-wing Afrika, a long-time sparing partner of the Denktash’s announced “the passing of an era”.
“A leader who characterised Turkish Cypriot politics for half a century has died. We wish his grieving family and associates our condolences”.
Top-selling Kibris said Dentash had expressed a wish to be “buried among the people”.
“We will never forget our father, Denktash,” the paper said.
