Following two years of Covid-19 restrictions and measures, annual and traditional festivals are being organized again in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

One of the most popular of the country’s village festivals, the annual Luricina festival, was held on Sunday at the village of Akıncılar.

President Ersin Tatar was among those who visited the event which has been taking place for the past 15 years.

Speaking during the festival, the village Mayor Hasan Barbaros said that they were happy to be able to organize the festival after a two-year forced interruption due to the pandemic.

Also speaking, the Speaker of Parliament Zorlu Töre said that Akıncılar’s population had dropped after 1974 and that projects were needed to keep the village alive.

He said that ideas could be discussed on opening a crossing point in the area.

“What is important is that our state is preserved,” he added.

Also delivering a speech, President Ersin Tatar said that the village of Akıncılar was very important for the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).

He expressed the hope that Turkish Cypriots living abroad will return to the country and continue their lives here in the TRNC.