Meaningful Commemoration by Mayor Eşki at the TRNC Park

Bornova Mayor Ömer Eşki commemorated Rauf Denktaş, the Founding President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), on the anniversary of his passing at the TRNC Park in Atatürk Neighborhood—a site symbolizing the struggle of Turkish Cypriots. Laying carnations at Denktaş’s bust, as well as in memory of the Turkish Resistance Organization (TMT) martyrs and the “Champion Angels” who lost their lives in the February 6 earthquakes, Mayor Eşki emphasized that Denktaş represents the honorable struggle for existence of the Turkish Cypriot people.

Bornova Mayor Ömer Eşki commemorated Rauf Denktaş on the 14th anniversary of his death with a ceremony held at the TRNC Park, established by Bornova Municipality in Atatürk Neighborhood. The commemoration, held in the park that was inaugurated a year earlier on Denktaş’s 101st birthday, once again recalled the Turkish Cypriots’ struggle for existence, the Cyprus Peace Operation, and the painful losses of recent history.

TRNC Flag Lowered to Half-Staff, Moment of Respect with Carnations

At the park, where the TRNC flag was lowered to half-staff, Mayor Ömer Eşki observed a moment of silence and laid red carnations at the bust of Rauf Denktaş; at the memorial area dedicated to the martyrs of the Turkish Resistance Organization (TMT); and at the site commemorating the students of Gazimağusa Turkish Maarif College—known to the public as the “Champion Angels”—who lost their lives in the February 6 earthquakes.

The Memory of the Cyprus Struggle Lives On in This Park

The TRNC Park brings together several symbolic elements:

• The bust of Founding President Rauf Denktaş,

• A rock monument inscribed with a peace-focused quote by Bülent Ecevit, the architect of the Cyprus Peace Operation,

• A poem by Turkish Cypriot poet Osman Türkay,

• Three Mediterranean cypress trees symbolizing the leaders of the Turkish Resistance Organization,

• The Champion Angels memorial area.

The park stands out as a symbolic space that conveys the struggle and shared memory of the Turkish Cypriot people to future generations.

Mayor Eşki: “Denktaş Is the Will of a People to Stand with Dignity”

Emphasizing that Rauf Denktaş was not only a statesman but also a symbol of a people’s struggle for existence, Mayor Ömer Eşki said:
“Rauf Denktaş is the embodiment of the Turkish Cypriot people’s struggle for equality, freedom, and dignity. He is a leader who never abandoned the will of his people, even under the most difficult circumstances. Today, we are not only commemorating a person, but a resistance, a collective memory, and the dignified stance of a people.”

Stating that the TRNC Park was created with this understanding, Eşki added:
“This park is a bridge between the past and the future. Remembering Denktaş, the Cyprus Peace Operation, the TMT martyrs, and the Champion Angels in the same place means bringing our pain, our struggle, and our solidarity together in a shared memory.”

Cultural Ties Strengthened with the ‘N’apan’ Café

Located within the park is the “N’apan” café, a Cypriot expression meaning “How are you, what are you doing?” Drawing attention to the importance of this detail, Mayor Eşki stated:
“Culture is preserved not only through monuments but also through everyday life. The ‘N’apan’ café is a warm meeting point that allows people to feel Cypriot culture here in Bornova.”