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Rauf Denktashâ€™s last words: â€œThe independence is important, rely on Turkey, our Motherland!â€

14 January 2012 07:52 (UTC +04:00)

Baku â€“ APA. Founder and first president of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Rauf Denktash died at 87 last night. The last words he told his daughter were: â€œThe independence is important, rely on Turkey, our Motherland!â€ TRNC President Dervish Eroglu, Prime Minister Irsen Kuchuk, Turkish Ambassador in Lefkosha Halil Ibrahim Akcha, Commander of the Turkish peacekeeping forces General Adem Huduti visited the hospital, where Denktash died, immediately after they received the news of his death, APA reports quoting the Turkish newspapers. Thousands of people gathered outside the hospital.

President Dervish Eroglu held a press conference. He said: â€œToday one more historic person left us. We lost our father Denktashâ€. Eroglu offered condolences to the all Turkic world on the death of the Cypriot hero. â€œI offer condolences to the all Turkic world. The history will write about Denktash. We will never forget him and his struggle. We will live up to him and be proud of himâ€.

Rauf Denktashâ€™s son Serdar Denktash also offered condolences to the supporters of his father. â€œMy father joined his three children he lost earlier, martyr soldiers and mojaheeds. I whispered him when he was in his deathbed: â€œYou founded a state. You turned the Turkish minority to the nationâ€.

Turkish President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan offered condolences to Denktashâ€™s family. The funerals will be held at the building of the Northern Cyprus parliament.