Former War Hero Forms Cyprus Peace Party

According to Cyprus laws, the minimum number of member signatures required by the Ministry of Internal Affairs to form a party is twenty-five. Stating that he considered Cyprus to be a national cause, Kalelioglu said: "We have founded the party to serve that cause." The Cyprus Justice Party will compete with 10 political parties in the December election in the TRNC.

Kalelioglu taught history at Namik Kemal High School in Magosa before the Cyprus Peace Operation. Helping to organize Turks during the Operation, Kalelioglu donned his uniform on July 20, 1974, the day that the Peace Operation began. Kalelioglu, an accomplished soldier, was given the title "ghazi to Magosa" by defending the city along with 800 Turkish Cypriot fighters with 250 weapons and three mortars, fighting off 8,000 Greek forces and securing the biggest harbor of the island, Magosa, for the Turkish side.

Kalelioglu, of whom a statue was later erected in the city, is again in Cyprus after 30 years. He says that he will work for the Cyprus case with his party founder friends.

Kalelioglu conducting studies during the 1980s aimed at solving the problems of Turks living in Europe. He then assumed the responsibilities of coordinator at the National Security Council Presidency of Social Affairs. Most recently, he worked as an advisor to the Religious Affairs Department of Turkey.

Erkan Acar / Istanbul / TURKEY