Undoubtedly, there is no any training to be a leader. They say "Leadership skills are not acquired later, true leaders are born with them" ... Look at the recent history of the countries of the world. How many leaders have been raised in the world like Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, who made the masses run after him, giving life to a nation that is about to disappear with a greater energy, enabling those who will carry the Republic he founded to walk with firm steps? How many leaders have been raised in the world like him, whose name is remembered with such a great respect even after his death?
In the histories of some countries today there are hundreds of leaders, who have leadership qualities with their performance and have gained reputation in their own countries even if they are not as effective names as Mustafa Kemal Atatürk who created a nation out of nothing.
13th January was the day of the 8th death anniversary of Rauf Raif Denktaş... The great leader who led the struggle for existence of 120 thousand Turks, living on the island of Cyprus at the North East Mediterranean which is only 70 kilometers away from Turkey.
Actually Rauf Raif Denktaş might be a name representing only 120 thousand Turkish Cypriots, but has guided the struggle for existence of many small or large societies in the world... There are very few people in the world who do not know or heard the name Denktaş… So much so that the island of Cyprus has been known and referred to as "the country of Denktaş" for many years.
There were some reasons of this of course ... He received training both in the UK and Turkey so he was a very good lawyer... He had a good political knowledge in Turkish, English and Greek languages... He used his inexhaustible energy to explain the rights of the 120 thousand Turks, in a very clear language, without getting tired of it, at numerous international conferences around the world.
The passionate speech given by Denktaş right after the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) was officially declared on November 15, 1983 is still in the memories… The speech was made at a special session titled Cyprus, which was organized by the United Nations and where they deemed TRNC invalid.
“I have thousands of people who were killed just because they opposed Enosis and just because they opposed Makarios’ unconstitutional rules… You dare to ignore TRNC established by my people using their self-determination rights… You ignored Republic of China for 30 years, you ignored East Germany for 25 years, but now they are sitting with us in the same hall… I greet them with respect” said Rauf Raif Denktaş, the Founding President of TRNC.
Denktaş gave his last breath in the intensive care service of the Near East University Hospital at 22:00 on the evening of January 12, 2012... As one of the few lucky people to be with him, I watched the emigration of that great statesman from this world despite of all efforts, in despair and pain.
He was such a great leader that; A few days before he died, disregarding the seriousness of his illness, he insisted for a meeting for the world press in the hospital lobby and delivered vital messages about the TRNC in front of the dozens of cameras.
With these feelings, I would like everyone to know the following sentence, which we, as the administrators of the hospital at that time, specifically put in the death declaration we prepared to be given to the press.
"There are some leaders who can lead only when they are healthy and in power. There are some other LEADERS who make the greatest leadership even in the sick bed and even after they leave us."
Not only us, but the world also will not forget you, my President.