Turkey, Cyprus bid farewell to Denktas

Former Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktas, who passed away Jan. 13 at the age of 87, will be laid to rest in Cumhuriyet Park in Nicosia tomorrow with a state ceremony, according to a decision from the Turkish Cypriot Cabinet. The late statesman's son, Serdar Denktas, said yesterday that a monument would also be built for his father, Anatolia news agency reported. A funeral ceremony for Turkish Cyprus' founding president will begin today while he will be laid to rest tomorrow. Schools and public buildings will be shut for tomorrow's funeral in the Turkish Cypriot capital Nicosia, while all official events will be canceled and flags will fly at half-mast, Turkish Cypriot official Osman Ertug said Jan. 14. Top Turkish leaders will fly to Turkish Cyprus for the funeral to pay their last respects to the legendary leader. President Abdullah Gul, Parliamentary Speaker Cemil Cicek, Deputy Prime Minister Besir Atalay and Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu are expected to attend, Turkish Cypriot President Dervis Eroglu said. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's participation is also "very likely," he added. The leaders of the opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), Kemal Kilicdaroglu and Devlet Bahceli, respectively, also said they would be in Nicosia tomorrow for the funeral, along with the chairmen of the Democrat Party (DP) and the Democratic Left Party (DSP). In Ankara, the government announced a period of national mourning until Denktas is laid to rest and ordered all flags, at home and at Turkish missions abroad, to fly at half-mast. Erdogan, who had at times chided Denktas, voiced "profound sadness" over his death, saying, "His ideals will live on forever on [Turkish Cypriot] soil, to which he dedicated his life." Gul said the Turkish nation had lost "a true hero" and described Turkish Cyprus as Denktas's "greatest legacy" for his people. "A just and lasting settlement in Cyprus will be the most significant achievement to keep Denktas's memory alive," he said. The General Staff also issued a message to honor "a true Turkish nationalist" who "embraced the Turkish soldiers [in Turkish Cyprus] with a fatherly affection." The Turkish military "will be a follower in keeping his ideals alive," it added.