Turkish Cypriots remember July 15 defeated coup

By Murat Demirci

LEFKOSA (AA) - Commemoration ceremonies were organized Saturday in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) to mark first anniversary of defeated coup.

Turkish Cypriot President Mustafa Akinci, Parliament Speaker Sibel Siber, Prime Minister Huseyin Ozgurgun, Turkey's Ambassador to the TRNC Derya Kanbay and Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's Chief Advisor Bulent Gedikli attended a ceremony at the Lefkosa Ataturk Cultural Center.

“The coup attempt was defeated by the courageous people of Turkey," Akinci said.

"On behalf of the Turkish Cypriot people, we convey our condolence to the martyrs of democracy, and respect to the veterans," he added.

Turkish embassy to TRNC also organized an event “Democracy and National Unity Day” in the capital Lefkosa to mark the first anniversary of the coup attempt.

The Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup of July 15, 2016, which left 250 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.

Ankara also accuses FETO of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police and judiciary.