Addressing the ceremony marking the start of the festival, President Tatar said he wished to extend his warmest wishes and gratitude to the municipality for the successful event, following a gap of two years in the organisation of this event due to the pandemic. Stating that the festival was this time coinciding with the war taking place between Russia and Ukraine, the President drew attention to the possibility of food shortages that could be lived as a result on a global scale.

“In this sense, this festival, which has been inaugurated under the slogan of returning to nature, will be beneficial,” he said.


 Stating that they are working to strengthen the TRNC, President Tatar added that they are “working to provide a better, more prosperous future for future generations through the ‘Zero Waste Project’ which was initiated under the leadership of First Lady Sibel Tatar last year and supported by the municipality.

The President said he “greatly appreciates the work of Tatlısu mayor Hayri Orçan,” and wished him success.

Tatlısu Mayor Hayri Orçan, addressing the festival, said they were as a municipality consciously aware on the need to protect and conserve the environment through different projects, and noted that the “Tatlısu Herb Culture Festival was this year being held under the slogan of returning to nature.” He said he was happy to have kicked-off a series of festivals that are being planned with the Tatlısu Herb Culture Festival as part of the normalisation process. “We attach great importance to culture and art,” Mr Orçan said. “Festivals are indeed very important in our culture, and in terms of tourism and bringing about economic activity. We are also able to raise awareness on different matters related to our environment through such festivals,” he added.


President Tatar and Mrs Tatar also spoke to members of the public and tradesmen during the festival.