Delegation tours Hatay in support of Turkish army
SENIOR figures from the TRNC visited the region close to the front line of Turkey’s military intervention in Afrin, Syria, in a public show of support for Ankara.
The 41-strong delegation which toured the Turkish province of Hatay from Sunday to Tuesday night included five MPs, headed by parliamentary Deputy Speaker Zorlu Töre, two mayors and several local councillors.
They met wounded soldiers and the grief-stricken family of Ahmet Bayram who was killed during “Operation Olive Branch”, which is currently being mounted against IS and Kurdish terrorist groups.
Mr Töre told Cyprus Today: “We wanted to show Turkish Cypriot solidarity and support for the Turkish army which is currently involved in a war against terrorism.
“Turkey’s actions in Syria are not, as some claim, an ‘occupation’ and they [the Turkish army] are certainly not an occupying force in Cyprus either.
“During the programme organised by Hatay Governor Erdal Ata we visited army camps, spoke with soldiers and gave our love and support to them.”
Also among the delegation were National Unity Party MPs Dursun Oğuz, Yasemin Öztürk, Özdemir Berova and Aytaç Çaluda, as well as İskele Mayor Hasan Sadıkoğlu and Paşaköy Mayor Habil Tülücü.
The visit came as it was announced that 1,974 kilos of hellim cheese — a symbolic weight referencing the July 20, 1974 Turkish peace operation in Cyprus — would be sent to Turkish soldiers in Afrin.
“We hope that the same peace which was brought to the entire island of Cyprus . . . will be brought about for Afrin, where terror groups exist,” said a joint statement from the TRNC Religious Affairs Workers’ Trade Union and its partner Association, which are making the donation. The Turkish army is, step-by-step, bringing peace to the Afrin region.”
The statement said the hellim would reach Turkey “within days” and be transported to soldiers in the combat area soon afterwards.
“This gesture shows our love for our motherland and our heartfelt regards and appreciation of the Turkish soldiers who are locked in an honourable battle,” concluded the statement.