19th of May Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day

The 19^th of May Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day was celebrated with several events in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and in Turkey. The celebrations began with the opening speech of the National Education and Culture Minister Özdemir Berova on BRTK. Wreaths were laid at the Atatürk monuments in Lefkoşa as well as in other cities and villages. President Mustafa Akıncı participated in the opening ceremony alongside the Parliament’s deputy Speaker Hüseyin Avkıran Alanlı, Prime Minister Hüseyin Özgürgün, 2^nd President Mehmet Ali Talat, Turkish Ambassador to Lefkoşa  Derya Kanbay, Commander of the Cyprus Turkish Peace Force Command Lieutenant General Ömer Paç, Security Forces Commander Major General Yılmaz Yıldırım, Supreme Court President Narin Ferdi Şefik, Leader of the Republican Turkish Party Tufan Erhürman, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Serdar Denktaş, Foreign Minister Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu and other ministers, parliamentarians and officials. During the ceremony, that was held at the Atatürk Monument in Lefkoşa, flags were raised, the national anthem was played and a minute of silence was observed. At the end of the ceremony, Turkish Ambassador to Lefkoşa Derya Kanbay handed President Mustafa Akıncı soil brought directly from Anıtkabir, Turkey.