Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris (18.01.12) reports that the late Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktas was buried yesterday at Cumhuriyet Parki [Republics Park] in the occupied part of Lefkosia after a ceremony organized at the so-called presidential palace and a religious service following the noon prayer at Selimiye Mosque. Soil brought from Turkey, from Hala Sultan Tekke in Larnaka and from his son Raifs gave was put onto Rauf Denktas grave.
Kibris writes that a historic day was experienced yesterday in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus and argues that the messages of Turkish President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan marked the day.
In his message in the book of condolences opened at the presidential palace, Gul said Denktas death was a great loss for the entire Turkish world and added that the biggest heritage that a life dedicated to the just cause of the TRNC people leaves behind is undoubtedly the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Gul argued: By defending this invaluable heritage, the Turkish Cypriot people will lead their struggle for the establishment of just and lasting peace on the island to a successful end and keep his dear memory alive forever.
Expressing his feelings in the same book, Prime Minister Erdogan alleged that Denktas dedicated his whole life to the establishment of peace and stability in Cyprus and added that when it was necessary Denktas led the struggle of independence of the Turkish Cypriot people and when it was necessary he fearlessly defended the rights of his people for peace, dialogue and reconciliation. He noted: The death of late Denktas is undoubtedly a painful loss for Turkey as much it is for the TRNC people. However, the struggle launched and carried out with courage by late Denktas in Cyprus will be become struggle of the citizens of the TRNC and Turkey with the same sincerity and will be carried on with the same determination.
The paper writes that Gul and Erdogan departed early from the occupied area of Cyprus right after the noon prayer and the funeral prayer and did not participate in the funeral at the Republics Park.
According to Kibris, for the first time the municipality of the occupied part of Lefkosia offered hot soup to the public with soup fountains it had established.
The paper also writes that respect was expressed yesterday at the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA) to Rauf Denktas. Addressing the TGNA, Bulent Arinc, vice president of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) argued that Denktas dedicated his whole life to the struggle of his people for freedom and equality and described him as symbol of struggling and being a man for a cause.
Kibris reports that a message for Denktas death was also issued by former Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, who described Denktas as great value and leader of the Turkish Cypriots. He noted that even during the periods he was opposing Denktas in the hardest manner, he has always been criticizing him at his face and never talked behind his back. Therefore, he always said he trusted me, added Talat.
Moreover, Turkish Cypriot daily Haberdar (18.01.12) reports that Italian Senator Paolo Pietro Amato was among those who expressed their condolences in the book opened at the breakaway regimes representation office in Rome. Amato, who had been granted the citizenship of the breakaway regime, said that Denktas was an important player not only for Cyprus but for international politics as well. He argued that the TRNC is his valuable heritage