A press conference was held on April 11, 2019 at European University of Lefke Faculty of Architecture on the national architectural project competition for memorial, exhibition and ceremonial space design in memory of the Martyrs of Paphos. Advisor of War Veterans Paphos Solidarity Association Türkay Tokel and Master Architect Tunç Adanır who is the Representative of the Chamber of Architects from Union of The Chambers of Cyprus Turkish Engineers and Architects (KTMMOB) conveyed detailed information about the competition. The contest will start on Friday, April 12, 2019 and end on Tuesday, June 11, 2019 at 17:00.

Giving information about the the national architectural project competition of memorial, exhibition and ceremonial space design in memory of the Martyrs of Paphos, Adanır said that the competition will take place under the supervision of the European University of Lefke and KTMMOB Chamber of Architects, War Veterans Paphos Solidarity Association and Güzelyurt Municipality. Pointing out the aim of the press release as informing the public that national architectural project for memorial, exhibition and ceremonial space design in memory of the Martyrs of Paphos will be held by the means of a competition, Adanır stated the place of the competition as D-278-81 with the decision of the Council of Guzelyurt Municipality of Guzelyurt located in Lala Mustafa Pasha Neighborhood, map XIX / 32.6.I.3.III, Block D and K695 numbered parcel.

Adanır: What makes people immortal is the transferring their name from generation to generation and keeping them alive forever

Adanır said that although war and death are the phenomena that no society imagines, the events in the history of the Cyprus have created awful memories in the minds of many people and added that “They are people who lost their lives beyond the painful memories. What makes people immortal is the transferring their name from generation to generation and keeping them alive forever”. Stating that the memories of the people who go beyond life and death, must be emphasized under a monument Adanır said that the the memorial area of the Paphos Martyrs’ Memorial which is hoped to be designed with this philosophy must protect the memories and identities of our martyrs forever.

Adanır: The purpose of this martyrdom monument is to ensure that our martyrs, whose name is printed on eternity, remain in the memory as well as in the hearts.

Adanır stated that there were many martyrs in 1964, in the first clash in Masjid, in Mavralı on 9 March 1964 and on July 20 and August 14 collisions which took place after the Peace Operation in 1974 after the green line which was set in the period of Cyprus Republic established in 1969 and added that there were soldiers in the martyrs as well as small babies, peasants working in their fields, cops, tradesmen and teachers. Adanır also emphasized that in these clashes from 1956 to 1974, many fathers, sons, brothers were martyred together, and added that this has gone down in history.

Adanır finally said that “For the martyrs who sacrificed their lives to protect their homeland, a martyrdom monument is planned in the Güzelyurt region so that their names would live forever”.

Tokel: As the Paphos War Veterans Solidarity Association our vision is to protect our national and spiritual values that come from the depths of our history

Head of Paphos War Veterans Solidarity Association Türkay Tokel said that “As the Paphos War Veterans Solidarity Association our vision is to protect our national and spiritual values that come from the depths of our history as well as to work to provide a solution where the effective and actual guarantees of our sovereignty, rights, equality and security are maintained in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus”.

On the other hand, Tokel stated the missions of the Paphos War Veterans Solidarity Association as “take the necessary lessons from events that took place on March 9, 1964 but apart from performing hate speech; setting an example for the humanity with emphasizing the concept of peace and equality without falling into the same situation; transferring these to the future generations; to emphasizing the respect that our martyrs show to the Greek soldiers, who were taken captive, as human beings, even in the war environment, and making the whole world feel the compassion and human love”.

Tokel also said that “As we learned from out martyris and as Mustafa Kemal Atatürk emphasizes ‘Freedom is to make any use that is not harmful to others, to show the limit of freedom to others as a limit to personal freedom and to determine and specify this limit only through the law’”.