North Cyprus celebrates Turkey’s Victory Day
VICTORY Day was celebrated in North Cyprus on Tuesday, in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the day that the Battle of Dumlupınar was won by the Turkish army.
The battle in question was a key point in the Turkish War of Independence, and gave Mustafa Kemal’s forces a platform from which to recapture the city of İzmir, force the Greek army’s withdrawal from Anatolia, and eventually proclaim the new Republic of Turkey.
A century on from this key moment in Turkish history, the commemorations began in the traditional manner, with a ceremony in front of the Atatürk statue at the Girne Kapısı (Kyrenia Gate) of Lefkoşa’s walled city.
The ceremony was attended by President Ersin Tatar, former President Mehmet Ali Talat, Prime Minister Ünal Üstel, Opposition leader Tufan Erhürman, Parliament Speaker Zorlu Töre, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Narin Ferdi Şefik, Turkish ambassador to Lefkoşa Ali Murat Başçeri, Cyprus Turkish Peace Forces Commander Major General Sezai Öztürk, Security Forces Command Commander Major General Zorlu Topaloğlu, and other dignitaries.
At the ceremony, wreaths were laid at the statue, before a moment of silence was held. The flags of both Turkey and the TRNC were raised, and the national anthem was played, before the special memorial book was signed.
In his notes in the special memorial book, Mr Tatar wrote that “this great victory once again showed the world that the Turkish nation will not accept captivity under any circumstances”, and that “the Turkish Cypriot people continued their national struggle with the inspiration and power they received from this victory”.
Later in the day, a military parade was held on Dr Fazıl Küçük Bulvarı on the outskirts of Lefkoşa, comprising of various fighting units both past and present.
The parade was once again attended by political dignitaries including President Tatar, Mr Üstel and Mr Başçeri, as well as a crowd of members of the public who used their day off work to see the passing convoys.
Mr Tatar and Mr Başçeri later visited the Cyprus Turkish Forces Regiment in Ortaköy, Lefkoşa, while other commemorative events were held elsewhere throughout the country.
In Güzelyurt local officials gathered outside the District Office for a moment’s silence and a rendition of the national anthem, before a poem was read out by local high school student Eylül Darbaz. A small military parade was also held in Güzelyurt, watched by its mayor Mahmut Özçınar.