Turkish Cypriots on Tuesday are marking the 101st anniversary of the founding of the Republic of Turkey, which took place on October 29, 1923.

A ceremony is set to take place in front of the monument of Turkey’s founding President Mustafa Kemal Ataturk at the Kyrenia gate of Nicosia’s walled city, while a walking procession will take place on Dereboyu avenue during the afternoon.

Other similar ceremonies are also set to take place in other towns and villages across the north, including in Famagusta, Trikomo, Lefka, Galateia and Lefkoniko, while a concert to commemorate the day is set to take place in Kyrenia on Tuesday evening.

Turkish ambassador in the north Yasin Ekrem Serim will give an address on the north’s public broadcaster BRT, which will be followed by a 21-gun salute.

In his message to commemorate the day, Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar said, “the Turkish Cypriot people, an inseparable part of the great nation of Turkey, experience the pride and enthusiasm of this honourable day with the same excitement and unity of feelings as the motherland Turkey.”

“We will continue to walk on the path shown by Ataturk, preserving the values the Republic has brought to us, and we will work with all our might with the power and support we receive from our motherland Turkey to bring our country and state to a more prosperous future,” he said.

The north’s ‘prime minister’ Unal Ustel said said Turkey’s current President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has “transformed Turkey from a regional power into a global power”.

“Once again, I congratulate you on Republic Day, with my most sincere wishes. I am so glad you exist, Turkey.”