AKEL marked the 20th anniversary of Özker Özgür’s passing on Wednesday with an event in Nicosia dedicated to the launch of the first Greek-language edition of his biography, “Özker Özgür – The Fighter-Teacher of the Turkish Cypriot Left”, written by Dr Abdullah Korkmazhan. Speaking at the presentation at the Kasteliotissa hall, AKEL General Secretary Stefanos Stefanou described the publication as both a tribute and a political reminder of the long, intertwined struggles of the island’s two communities.
Lifelong commitment to rapprochement
Stefanou framed Özgür as a towering figure who shone “in the dark era in which he lived,” emphasising the personal courage, political clarity and commitment to reunification that defined his life’s work. Born in poverty in Vretsia, Paphos, Özgür became an educator shaped by an early sense of social injustice. As a teacher he championed a non-chauvinist approach to history education, arguing that Cypriot students deserved textbooks free of nationalist distortions. His political trajectory led him to marxist thought, anti-imperialist activism and, eventually, a lifelong commitment to rapprochement between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots.
The biography, published by Almyra in a translation by Maria Siakalli, draws heavily on Özgür’s personal archive, which his family opened to the author.
Reflecting on Özgür’s years at the helm of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) and later the United Cyprus Party (BKP), Stefanou highlighted his pivotal role in resisting authoritarianism within the Turkish Cypriot community and in pushing for bold intercommunal cooperation. Özgür’s close personal and political relationship with former AKEL leader Dimitris Christofias was described as a “model of intercommunal political partnership,” forged in an era when contact across the dividing line was both dangerous and politically costly.
Rising nationalist rhetoric
Stefanou used the occasion to restate AKEL’s commitment to a bizonal, bicommunal federation with political equality, rejecting nationalist rhetoric and warning that the rise of the far right on both sides of the island threatens to cement division. He stressed that AKEL maintains open channels with all Turkish Cypriots who support reunification – regardless of political affiliation – and views rapprochement as a core pillar of its strategy.
The AKEL leader expressed cautious optimism following the recent election of a new Turkish Cypriot leadership, calling for talks to resume from the point they broke off at Crans-Montana, “just one mile from a solution,” as noted by the UN Secretary-General.
Source: CNA