Ersenal: Our Objective is to Preserve the 5,000-Year-Old Civilization

Rauf Ersenal, Chairman of the International Vounous Terracotta Symposium and Researcher, emphasized that their goal is to breathe life into replicas of artifacts smuggled abroad and to preserve this civilization that existed 5,000 years ago. The symposium attracted 70 artists and academics from 10 countries.

Tümkan: Preserving the Country’s Historical and Cultural Heritage is the Responsibility of Central and Local Governments

Başak Tümkan, Deputy Mayor of Çatalköy Esentepe Municipality, noted that this year’s symposium included 70 artists and academics from 10 countries, including Northern Cyprus. She stated that preserving a country’s historical and cultural heritage is one of the primary duties of central and local governments.

Dürü: Book on Vounous and the Symposium to be Prepared

Sühat Dürü, Advisor to Çatalköy Esentepe Municipality, announced that the municipality will prepare a book this year about Vounous and the symposium.

Benter: Youth Should Embrace Their History and Cultural Heritage

İbrahim Benter, General Manager of the Cyprus Foundations Administration, emphasized that for a country and nation to maintain its identity, young people need to learn to embrace their history and cultural heritage.

Özdenefe: The Country’s Historical, Cultural, and Natural Riches Must Be Preserved

Fazilet Özdenefe, Deputy Speaker of the Assembly, highlighted that Vounous, with its 5,000-year history, has been brought to light again through the efforts of Çatalköy Esentepe Municipality, Rauf Ersenal, and his team. She emphasized the importance of preserving the country’s historical, cultural, and natural riches.

Erhürman: True Patriotism Involves Embracing All Civilizations, Cultures, Values, and Riches

Tufan Erhürman, Leader of the main opposition Republican Turkish Party, noted that true patriotism involves embracing, internalizing, and adopting all civilizations, cultures, values, and riches that have passed through a country’s lands throughout history.

Tatar: 5,000-Year-Old Historical Cultural Heritage Resurfaces Through Vounous Terracotta Symposium

Ersin Tatar, in his capacity as President, stated that the 5,000-year-old historical cultural heritage has resurfaced through the Vounous Terracotta Symposium.

Tatar emphasized that the island of Cyprus possesses great wealth with its natural beauties, historical past, and cultural assets. He stated, “As the Turkish Cypriot people, while protecting the TRNC, we strive to contribute by making the best use of the country’s historical beauties and archaeological riches.”

Noting that the TRNC is a candidate to become one of the most prosperous states in the Mediterranean with its historical, cultural, and natural beauties, Tatar emphasized that incorporating these values of the country into tourism would add to the country’s wealth.

The 5th Vounous Terracotta Symposium will conclude on the evening of September 16.

Below, I present the English and Russian translations of the text: