BY TUFAN TURENC
HURRIYET- What Rauf Denktas said during his farewell visits as TRNC president was remarkable: ‘In no other place in the world is a president criticized or insulted for defending his own nation’s rights. But somehow I am.’
These are the words of a heartbroken leader in his eighties who has devoted his entire life to a cause but hasn’t received as much support as he expected. Although he tried hard to conceal it, anyone could sense Denktas’s sorrow. Not that he cared about the disloyalty he’s had to face after devoting all his life to his nation, but there was something else that bothered him very much. He couldn’t bear the loss of his people’s cause, which he values more than anything. ‘I can’t understand how I was proven wrong in such a righteous cause,’ he said.
Now he is preparing for a new struggle for his people. In his new office he will continue to keep a close eye on the cause of Turkish Cypriots and try to warn both Turkey and the TRNC off mistakes. I myself can’t imagine Denktas give up his elixir of life, which is the struggle for Turkish Cypriots. As long as he lives, no one can make hurried decisions on the Cyprus issue.
Oktay Eksi and I went to visit Denktas last Saturday. Ours was a visit of faithfulness by two journalists who have long followed his struggle closely. He received us in his study. As I mentioned earlier, he was still heartbroken, but a bit more relaxed than before. With an air of evident determination, he said, ‘Now that my burden is lighter, I will travel a little. I will visit some villages. I will talk to villagers. I will listen to what they say.’
He also said he has been receiving countless invitations from all around Turkey, but that it’s impossible for him to accept all of them. I sensed that he’s also worried about the rising wave of nationalism in Turkey that’s turning into a huge reaction due to provocations. Therefore, he is answering these invitations cautiously.
Next week, the Denktas era in Cyprus will be over. From then on, he will work for the cause of his people as a wise statesman and will always have our respect and gratitude.