Breathtaking exercise from Turkey and TRNC: ‘Martyr Lieutenant Caner Gönyeli-2024’

The first phase of the Martyr Lieutenant Caner Gönyeli-2024 Search and Rescue Exercise, organized by Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) in Girne, was carried out. The first phase of the Martyr Lieutenant Caner Gönyeli-2024 Search and Rescue Exercise, organized by Turkey and the TRNC, took place in the 101 Evler area of Girne. Major General Osman Aytaç, providing information about the exercise, stated that the exercise has been held since 2002. Following the speech, an artifact in memory of Martyr Lieutenant Caner Gönyeli was presented to his wife Nükhet Gönyeli by Major General Aytaç and Coast Guard Commander Rear Admiral Ahmet Kendir. After the meeting, the search and rescue (Land) phase of the exercise began. According to the scenario, upon a passenger plane traveling between Izmir-Ercan cities signaling danger, the TRNC Search and Rescue Organization was activated and various personnel and vehicles were dispatched to the area. Initial and emergency interventions for the identified casualties were provided by health teams. 10 coordination centers from Turkey and 4 from the TRNC actively participated in the operation that took place in the 101 Evler area. TRNC President Ersin Tatar, Turkey’s Ambassador to Nicosia Metin Feyzioğlu, TRNC Foreign Minister Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu, and the 2nd President of the TRNC Mehmet Ali Talat attended the exercise. It was reported that military personnel from Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, and Mauritania participated as observers in the exercise, which included Land, Naval, and Air Force Commands, Gendarmerie General Command, Coast Guard Command, TRNC elements, and civilian institutions and organizations. Additionally, 10 coordination centers from Turkey and 4 from the TRNC actively participated in the exercise. Ersin Tatar, stating that the first phase of the Martyr Lieutenant Caner Gönyeli exercise in the Besparmak Mountains was successfully conducted, said, ‘A very successful exercise was carried out here. With years of work and coordination, we have seen how effective both the TRNC Security Forces Command and the relevant teams of the Republic of Turkey can be in rescuing and searching for people who may face any disaster in the air or on the ground in their sovereign territory. In this exercise organized in memory of our martyr Caner Gönyeli, we have seen what can be done in terms of our rights and law in the Eastern Mediterranean of the TRNC, both in the air and on the ground, in cooperation with the Republic of Turkey. Tomorrow, in Gazimağusa, there will be the sea phase of the Caner Gönyeli exercise, and we will be there.’