TRNC celebrates 97th year of the Turkish Republic

CEREMONIES were held on Thursday to mark the 97th anniversary of the foundation of the Turkish Republic by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.

The main ceremony took place in Lefkoşa where President Ersin Tatar, second president Mehmet Ali Talat, main opposition Republican Turkish Party leader Tufan Erhürman, and senior government and military officials, mayors and others laid wreaths at the Atatürk statue. A minute’s silence was held before the singing of the Turkish national anthem.

The ceremony was followed later in the day by a walk along Mehmet Akıf Caddesi, also known as “Dereboyu”.

Students, teachers, scouts, soldiers and ministers took part in the walk, waving Turkish and TRNC flags.

Turkish ambassador to Lefkoşa Ali Murat Başçeri, National Education and Culture Minister Nazım Çavuşoğlu and Deputy Speaker of Parliament Zorlu Töre were among those who took part.

Speaking at the end of the march, Mr Çavuşoğlu said: “It is the youth that will sustain the [TRNC]. We need to raise them well. . . We have founded the TRNC and will keep it alive with Turkey.”

In his message to mark the day President Tatar said that the 97th anniversary of the Turkish Republic was being celebrated with “more joy and happiness due to the victory of the Turkish nation in the struggle for existence by the Great Leader Ghazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk”.

“The Turkish Cypriot nation, as an inseparable part of the great Turkic world, is honoured to celebrate this great day with the same happiness as motherland Turkey,” he said.

“Through protecting the values of the republic, we will continue to walk down the path Atatürk paved and will work even harder to achieve a prosperous future for our country and state with the power and support of Atatürk and motherland Turkey. . . May all martyrs who shed their blood for their lands rest in peace.”

In his message, Parliamentary Speaker Teberrüken Uluçay said: “I wish this day . . . which is identified as the greatest day by Great Leader Ghazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, will be a great day for all of us and I commemorate Atatürk with respect.”

Similar messages were also issued by Mr Töre, Labour and Social Security Minister Faiz Sucuoğlu, Agriculture and Natural Resources Minister Dursun Oğuz, Economy and Energy Minister Hasan Taçoy, Democrat Party leader Fikri Ataoğlu and numerous other politicians, unions and associations.