Founding President Rauf R. Denktaş is one of the most important leaders in the nationalization process of the Turkish Cypriots as political entities.

Cyprus International University (CIU) Faculty of Arts and Sciences Academic Staff, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hasan Samani stated that the Founding President Rauf R. Denktaş was a leader who left his mark on the political life of the Turkish Cypriots until the beginning of the 2000s.

Drawing attention to Rauf R. Denktaş’s charismatic personality, Samani noted that Denktaş's sincere relations with the public furthered his leadership qualities.

Stating that Denktaş consistently maintained his position with relation to the Cyprus problem throughout his political life, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Samani added that he is one of the most important leaders when it came to the nationalization process of the Turkish Cypriots as political entities.

Stating that Rauf R. Denktaş acted without compromise when it came to the ideals he believed and fought for throughout his political life, Samani elaborated that he won the appreciation of his political adversaries as a consistent politician.

Indicating that the Founding President not only provided direction in the Turkish Cypriot political life, but also steered the politics of Turkey in the context of the Cyprus problem, Samani underlined that during Denktash's active political life, he was the voice and symbol of the Turkish Cypriot political identity in the international arena.

Reminding that after 1974, Rauf R. Denktaş signed the 1977 and 1979 High Treaties on behalf of the Turkish Cypriot community, forming the basis of the Federal Model put forward in an effort to find a solution to the national problem in Cyprus and adopted by the international system, Samani stated that the peak agreements between “Denktas-Makarios” and "Denktas-Kyprianos" also constitute the basis for negotiations in finding a solution to the Cyprus problem.

Concluding that with his half-century of political experience, Rauf Denktaş is a very important symbol in the struggle of the Turkish Cypriot Community in existing on the island with their own cultural and political identity, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Samani went on to say, “he is much more important when it comes to the demonstration of the necessary respect for our community leaders and the Turkish Cypriot political presence and will, by the parties involved in the Cyprus Problem and the international community today."