Rauf Denktash was a Turkish Cypriot politician and lawyer, best known for his role as the founding president of the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) from 1983 to 2005. He played a significant part in the political landscape of Cyprus, advocating for the rights of the Turkish Cypriot community and promoting the idea of a separate Turkish state on the island. Denktash's leadership was marked by his efforts to negotiate with the Greek Cypriots and international entities regarding the division of Cyprus. His tenure was characterized by a strong stance on Turkish Cypriot sovereignty, which often led to tensions in the ongoing Cyprus dispute.