Festival highlights importance of olives
THE 20th International Olive Festival organised by Girne Municipality was held in the Zeytinlik village square last weekend.
President Ersin Tatar was among those who attended the opening ceremony. He expressed the importance of encouraging olive production in the TRNC and invited the public to plant new saplings and olive trees in their gardens.
“We love the TRNC and our people,” he said in a speech. “We protect production and the beauties of the country. I congratulate all productive hands that take good care of their saplings and trees and try to develop their own economy. Both this pandemic and economic problems will be left behind.
“The future is ours. It’s our duty to protect the TRNC and the Turkish Cypriot people. It’s good to produce, it brings fruitfulness to the country’s lands and the economy develops. . . I would like to thank everyone who contributed to this beautiful and meaningful event.”
The festival included various stalls selling olives and olive-based products, folk dance performances and concerts by local acts.
The last day of the festival last Sunday started with the planting of olive saplings in the Zeytinlik Council Housing area. This was followed by a live art performance at Zeytinlik Village House, a presentation about olives and olive oil “and their place in our lives and their importance for our health”, an awards ceremony for artists who won the “Golden Olive Humour Appreciation Award” in the 9th and 10th International Cartoon and Olive Humour Festival, a concert by Dilara Ferit, a “Tango Dance Show”, and a concert by the group SOS.
Girne Mayor Nidai Güngördü expressed his pleasure that “everyone enjoyed the festival” and pointed to the importance of olive production.
“Girne Municipality has taken important steps in doing this and the Olive Festival is of great importance in this regard,” he said.
“The olive tree symbolises love, peace, tolerance and longevity. For this reason, I wish this festival to be full of peace, love and longevity and thank everyone who contributed and attended the festival.”