A monument dedicated to the memory of Erkut Akbay, Administrative Attaché of the Turkish Embassy in Lisbon and his wife Nadide Akbay who were killed in a terrorist attack in 1982, as well as to all diplomats and government officials fallen while on duty abroad, will be unveiled in Lisbon on June 7, 2013.

The unveiling of the monument to fallen diplomats coincides with the 31st anniversary of the atrocious attack against Erkut and Nadide Akbay, for which a radical Armenian organization claimed responsibility.

As can be recalled, some 13 months after the abovementioned attack, Cahide Mıhçıoğlu, the wife of the Turkish Chargé d'Affaires, was martyred in another attack which targeted the residence of the Turkish Embassy in Lisbon. A Portuguese police officer also lost his life during this attack.

The monument is located at the junction opposite the family home, where Administrative Attaché Erkut Akbay and his wife Nadide Akbay were attacked. The children of the deceased will attend the unveiling ceremony of the monument.

The monument, which symbolizes a common stance against terrorism regardless of its source, will bear witness to the principles of peace, freedom and coexistence that are shared by Turkey and Portugal.

On this occasion, we once again mourn the loss of our fallen who were treacherously murdered while serving their country with honor and who held the love of their nation and their sense of duty above their own lives.