Black Sea Cultural Association’s traditional Hamsi Festival (Anchovy) was held in Girne on Sunday.

During the festival, everyone was treated to anchovies which are a part of the Black Sea culture and other delicacies of the region.

The Hamsi Festival or the Anchovy Festival of the Black Sea Culture Association was held with contributions from the Trabzon Metropolitan Municipality and the Girne Municipality.

President Ersin Tatar, Parliamentary Speaker Zorlu Töre, Second President Mehmet Ali Talat, Security Forces Commander Major General Zorlu Topaloğlu, some ministers, deputies, mayors and citizens attended the event.

Speaking at the event Parliamentary Speaker Zorlu Töre expressed his delight at meeting people from many geographies of Anatolia in Cyprus.

He said some arrived on the island in 1571 and others in 1974 and added that together they are all a part of the Turkish nation.

Reminding that they made these lands their homeland and that a republic was established on these lands, Töre said that it was their duty to hand over this state and the republic to the next generations intact.

President Ersin Tatar for his part said that due to the 1974 Peace Operation they were able to live in safety and added that Türkiye always supported the Turkish Cypriot people.

Touching upon the efforts that are being made for the recognition of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Tatar (TRNC), Tatar said “More important steps will be taken for the recognition of the TRNC. There is no going back from our policies, because we all know very well that all the efforts made for an agreement on a federal basis in Cyprus for more than 50 years, have been in vain”.

President Tatar added that the Turkish Cypriot people, with the support of Türkiye, had always shown their goodwill and saw that the efforts made for an agreement on a federal basis at the negotiating table for years, were in vain.