The 15th Traditional Anchovy Festival was held in İskele on Sunday.
The festival got underway with folk dance shows put on by the Black Sea Culture Association’s branches in İskele and Girne.
Murat Civelek, the President of the Black Sea Culture Association, provided information about the activities of the association during the festival.
He expressed that İskele is home to people from various nations, and cultures blend together in harmony and respect.
Also speaking İskele Mayor Hasan Sadıkoğlu said that the city hosted various cultures and highlighted the significance of such cultural festivals.
The Turkish Ambassador to Lefkoşa Metin Feyzioğlu who also addressed the event said, “Some of us came here in 1571, and some of us came after 1974. But we are all essential elements of the noble Turkish nation,” emphasizing that nobody is separate, and everyone is united.
Speaking next, the Speaker of Parliament Zorlu Töre delivered a message of unity and solidarity.
“We are one, together, we are the Turkish nation, regardless of looking at geography or our birthplace; we are the Turkish nation.” He emphasized the importance of taking care of and perpetuating the state.
Delivering the final speech at the event, President Ersin Tatar reminded that there were thousands of people from the Black Sea region who had settled in Cyprus after 1974, making the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus their home and contributing to the cultural richness of the country.
He emphasized that safeguarding the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and sustaining the Turkish state in the Eastern Mediterranean was a duty.
Expressing the desire to continue living in peace, tranquillity, and security in Cyprus, President Tatar conveyed the importance of ongoing efforts for the development and promotion of the country.
He underscored the importance of preserving national and spiritual values and passing them on to future generations.
During the festival, three tons of anchovies specially brought from the Black Sea were prepared in various ways and served to guests.
With performances by Black Sea artists, citizens enjoyed the day by dancing the traditional dance “horon.”