[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 25 (Wednesday, February 15, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E198-E199]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        RECALLING RAUF DENKTASH

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. DAN BURTON

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 15, 2012

  Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to 
Rauf Denktash: a statesman, lawyer, author, and the leader of the 
Turkish-Cypriots, who passed away on January 13, 2012 at the age of 88.

[[Page E199]]

  Rauf Denktash was born on January 27, 1924 at the village of Ktima, 
near Paphos, Cyprus, the son of a judge, he went on to study law at 
Lincoln's Inn in London. During the London Blitz of World War II, he 
served as an air-raid warden and helped to save Lincoln's Inn Hall from 
destruction. After the war, he practiced as a prosecuting barrister in 
Nicosia. By the time Denktash became Solicitor General in 1956, he was 
already a prominent leader within the Turkish-Cypriot community and 
served in numerous leadership capacities in the following decades on 
behalf of the Turkish-Cypriot community. In 1983, Denktash became the 
Turkish-Cypriot leader, a position he held until his retirement in 
2005.
  Spanning his entire political career, Denktash worked tirelessly in 
support of his Cypriot homeland. He defined his vision of Cyprus as ``a 
place where my grandchildren can grow up free from fear.'' In addition 
to Denktash's extensive political career, he was also the author of 
over 40 books, and was an avid and renowned photographer. During the 
course of his life, his works were exhibited throughout the world.
  I extend my condolences to the Denktash family and I join my Turkish-
American friends and constituents in recognizing Rauf Denktash for all 
of his achievements throughout his lifetime. I know that those who knew 
and admired him will greatly miss him.

                          ____________________