London’s Memorial Event Honoring Champion Angels: PM Üstel Vows to Continue Struggle
Tree planting event in London honors Champion Angels
Prime Minister Ünal Üstel and President of the Champion Angels Keeping Alive Association Ruşen Karakaya recently attended a tree planting event in London, the capital of England, to honor the memory of the Champion Angels.
The event, which took place at Trent Park, was organized to commemorate the lives of the Champion Angels who tragically lost their lives in an earthquake in Kahramanmaraş, Turkey in 2023. It was a poignant gathering for the Turkish Cypriot community, marked by both sorrow and solidarity.
Alongside TRNC Prime Minister Ünal Üstel and his wife Zerrin Üstel, the event was attended by Republic of Turkey Ambassador to London Osman Koray Ertaş, TRNC London Representative Çimen Keskin, as well as local deputies, mayors, and members of NGOs and the community.
Emotional speeches highlight the importance of remembrance and justice
During the ceremony, Prime Minister Ünal Üstel delivered a moving speech, expressing deep sorrow for the lives lost in the earthquake and a strong commitment to seeking justice for the Champion Angels:
“Today, we gather to honor our Champion Angels and keep their memory alive. The tragedy that occurred in our homeland, Turkey, on February 6, affected us deeply. We lost over 50 thousand people, including our beloved Champion Angels. May they rest in peace, and may their families find solace. We stand in solidarity with the Turkish nation to ensure such disasters never happen again.
Following the earthquake, we joined efforts with Turkey to provide aid and support to the affected areas. Despite the heartbreaking loss of our children, we never gave up on bringing them back home and preserving their memory.
Our goal is to not only keep the memory of our fallen angels alive but also to seek justice for them. We will continue our legal battle to hold those responsible accountable and prevent such tragedies from happening again.
It is heartening to see the support and solidarity of our community here in London. Together, we are stronger in our pursuit of justice and remembrance.”
Ruşen Karakaya, President of the Champion Angels Keeping Alive Association, also emphasized the importance of the ongoing struggle for justice, stating that the fight was not just for the families of the victims but for the collective humanity.
Solidarity and remembrance through tree planting
Local officials and community leaders echoed messages of solidarity and unity at the event, underlining the significance of standing together in the face of adversity. The trees planted in memory of the Champion Angels serve as a symbol of solidarity, resilience, and the continuous effort to keep their memories alive.
