A photography exhibition titled “Leader Rauf Denktaş, Who Made His Mark on History” opened in Ankara A photography exhibition titled “Leader Rauf Denktaş, Who Made His Mark on History,” organized by the Journalists Association, opened in Ankara.
The exhibition features words by Founding President Rauf Raif Denktaş that shed light on the history of Cyprus, as well as photographs of his childhood, family, years of struggle, and works taken through his own lens. The exhibition was prepared by Cem Kar, Ali Oruç, and Mine Çeliker.
The exhibition, held at the Journalists Association, which is based in Ankara, was opened by Democratic Party leader Serdar Denktaş and Journalists Association President Nazmi Bilgin.
The exhibition was attended by TRNC Ambassador to Ankara Mustafa Lakadamyalı, CHP leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, Embassy Undersecretary Hüsnü Duba, Rahşan Ecevit, MHP Manisa MP Sümer Oral, and Serdar Denktaş’s wife, Müge Denktaş.
Speaking at the opening of the exhibition, which features 250 photographs, Serdar Denktaş said, “Reflecting Denktaş’s life in an exhibition also means exhibiting the history of the Turkish Cypriots.”
Pointing out that Denktaş was a leader who had created a community and defended the cause he believed in until his final moments, Denktaş’s son said, “He spent his life, right up to his final minute, sending a message to his people. He went through difficult times but did not give up. He traveled from village to village in Cyprus and from province to province in Türkiye, explaining the thinking of the Turkish Cypriots. Denktaş is no longer here, but a state and a nation he left behind continue to exist there. The negotiations will reach an impasse at some point. A referendum should be held to ask the Turkish Cypriots for their opinion, and everyone should respect that view. We will continue to do everything we can on his behalf to make this referendum happen, so that the Turkish Cypriot people can decide their own future,” he said.
Speaking at the opening, Journalists Association President Nazmi Bilgin also thanked those who had contributed to the exhibition, saying, “This is a tribute, not an exhibition. We bowed respectfully before him while he was alive, and we do so now as well.”
Serdar Denktaş and those accompanying him toured the exhibition after the opening.
After touring the exhibition, CHP leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, who attended the opening, said in a speech that Denktaş was an important political figure, that Denktaş had made significant efforts to bring Cyprus to where it is today, and that they remembered him with gratitude.
The exhibition can be visited until Monday, March 19.