The opening ceremony of the 19th of May Week celebrations which marks Commemoration of Atatürk Youth and Sports Day began this morning.
The lighting of the Youth Torch in front of the Lefkoşa Atatürk Monument marked the opening of weeklong celebrations.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Minister of National Education and Culture Nazım Çavuşoğlu said that on May 19, 1919, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of modern day Turkiye, went to Samsun and that was the day the flow of history was shaped and the day the Turkish people obtained their republic.
He said that he was pleased to be celebrating the 103rd anniversary of the fire of liberation and congratulated Turkiye on its historical milestone.
“The 19th of May 1919 marked the beginning of the national independence movement in Turkiye. Today is the day of those who fought for existence and gave their all to the struggle” said Çavuşoğlu.
Stating that May 19 is the day of the Turkish youth that Atatürk believed in, Çavuşoğlu said, “The Turkish youth will always protect what they have been entrusted with and will continue their faith in the struggle for independence with the same determination.”
A variety of performances were realised after the opening speeches were completed and the Minister for National Education and Culture Nazım Çavuşoğlu lit the torch together with students in front of the Atatürk Monument.
The ceremony here ended with the Lefkoşa Turk High School students reading Atatürk’s address to the youth.