Former Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar on Friday marked the fifth anniversary of the death of his father Rustem Tatar, who was the Republic of Cyprus’ first auditor-general.

“He was an extraordinarily hardworking person who served our people in many different capacities and wholeheartedly believed in our cause. May he rest in peace,” Ersin Tatar said.

Rustem Tatar was just 29 years old when he was named by Dr Fazil Kucuk as the Republic of Cyprus’ first auditor-general in 1960, having been born in Polis Chrysochous on October 23, 1930.

He had previously served as an economic advisor for the Turkish Cypriot side during negotiations which eventually produced the Republic of Cyprus’ constitution at the Zurich and London conferences.

Following the ejection of the Turkish Cypriots from their governmental positions, he served as the financial director of the autonomous Turkish Cypriot authority which operated in the 1960s and early 1970s.

Later, he served as the Turkish Cypriot member of the Committee on Missing Persons (CMP).

He had three children, including Ersin, who served as Turkish Cypriot leader between 2020 and last year.