Turkish Sovereignty, Children's Day marked in N.Cyprus

By Muhammet Ikbal Arslan

LEFKOSA (AA) – The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) on Thursday celebrated Turkey’s April 23 National Sovereignty and Children's Day and the 100th anniversary of the foundation of the Turkish parliament.

Nazım Cavusoglu, the TRNC’s education and culture minister, delivered a speech to the nation via radio marking National Sovereignty and Children's Day.

He underlined that the day will remain a day of consolidation of national unity and solidarity between Turkish Cypriots and people in the homeland and that on this day the Turkish nation will be one in pride and sorrow.

TRNC President Mustafa Akinci also celebrated the day with a video message.

Ersin Tatar, the country’s prime minister, also met via social media with children from six different towns for Children's Day.

The country’s parliament, public institutions, and organizations and people’s houses were also adorned with the flags of both Turkey and the TRNC.

Turkey marks April 23, the anniversary of its parliament, as a festival for children, while public offices, schools, and private citizens also hold programs.

The celebrations have been dedicated to children since the early days of the country at Ataturk's instruction.

The Turkish Grand National Assembly met for the first time in Ankara in 1920 during the War of Independence to lay the foundations for an independent, secular, and modern republic.

* Writing by Havva Kara Aydin