Names of the Martyrs of July 15 Are Kept Alive at the TRNC Bogaz Martyrs' Cemetery

In 2020, Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) planted 251 olive trees in memory of those who were martyred during the treacherous coup attempt of July 15. As part of this year’s commemoration events, a monument was built, indicating that each of the 251 olive trees planted in the area last year represented one of our martyrs. On the monument, the names of the martyrs are listed in alphabetical order and matched with the planting plan of the trees.

The ceremony held at the TRNC Bogaz Martyrs' Cemetery on the occasion of July 15, Democracy and National Unity Day, was attended by Ersin Tatar, President of the TRNC; Önder Sennaroğlu, Speaker of the Assembly of the Republic of the TRNC; Ersan Saner, Prime Minister of the TRNC; Ali Murat Başçeri, the Republic of Turkey’s Ambassador to Nicosia; Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the TRNC; Dursun Oğuz, Minister of Finance of the TRNC; Major General Sezai Öztürk, Commander of the Cyprus Turkish Peace Force Command; Major General Zorlu Topaloğlu, Commander of the Security Forces Command; representatives of institutions and organizations; and citizens.

In his speech at the ceremony, Ali Murat Başçeri, the Republic of Turkey’s Ambassador to Nicosia, mentioned the 251 olive trees planted at the TRNC Bogaz Martyrs' Cemetery last year, and said, “Today, in the spiritual presence of our heroic martyrs who sacrificed their lives 46 years ago without hesitation in order to protect the Turkish Cypriots, and who now rest in peace with their mujahid brothers and sisters, we see that the trees we planted grew taller. I would like to remind once again that the determined stance taken in the Eastern Mediterranean and Cyprus to protect the rights and interests of both the Turkish Cypriots and Turkey is the continuation of the struggle waged on July 15. We are determined to continue to fight for the prosperous future of our country.”

The ceremony ended with the placing of carnations on the graves of the martyrs at the Bogaz Martyrs' Cemetery and the visit to the monument, where the names of the martyrs are kept alive by TİKA, and the area where the trees were planted.