22nd Cherry Festival started with intense participation
The 22nd Cherry Festival, which is traditionally organised every year by Yassıköy Municipality, started on Friday, 31 May, with the intense participation of the people of the region.
The festival event attracted great interest from the people of Yassıköy and the neighbouring villages.
The cherry festival, moderated by Batuhan Hasan and Duygu Perende, started with the opening speech of Yassıköy Mayor Caner İmam.
Mayor Caner Imam started his speech by greeting all the participants and said: "Yaka is one of the most beautiful regions of Rhodope with its natural beauties and cultural charm. Yaka, which is located at the foot of the Rhodope Mountain range, has been the basis of the economy in its neighborhood for many years due to its favourable climate and fertile soils."
Stating that the region has an ideal location for the cultivation of various fruit trees and especially cherries, Imam said, "With this awareness, we are trying to keep our cherry alive in order to keep the social and cultural structure alive and contribute to the economy of the people of the region, we are keeping this beautiful cherry festival alive and we will continue to keep it alive." he spoke.
Stating that as the municipal administration, they are determined to draw a new path that will give the agricultural sector a certain perspective, respond to the needs and address the real problems of the agricultural sector, Imam said, "Our aim is to support agriculture and tourism by protecting nature. Thus, to contribute to the economic, social and cultural development of our people. I sincerely congratulate everyone who contributed to the organisation of this beautiful festival, which contributes greatly to the promotion of our Yaka and Yaka cherry."
Afterwards, Yassıköy Mayor Caner Imam presented a plaque to the Consul General of Türkiye in Komotini Aykut Unal for his participation in the festival.
Within the scope of the programme, firstly, a music performance by the students of Yassıköy Municipality Creative Education Centre took the stage.
Afterwards, the Folklore team of Komotini Turkish Youth Union, Modern dance school 'Butterfly Dance Studio' dance performance, traditional dance performances of Yassıköy Cultural Association, Darbuka Rhythm Workshop performance of Western Thrace Minority University Graduates Association, Turkish Art Music Friends Association concert and folklore performance of Akrites Association took place.
The first evening of the festival was rounded off with a concert by 'Grup Live'.
The cherry festival organised in Bulatköy football field area of Yassıköy municipality was attended by Consul General of Türkiye in Komotini Aykut Ünal and his wife İlayda Ünal, President of the Advisory Board of the Turkish Minority of Western Thrace and Mufti of Komotini İbrahim Şerif, Mufti of Xanthi Mustafa Trampa, Rodopi MP Özgür Ferhat, Xanthi MP Burhan Baran, President of Friendship Equality Peace Party Çiğdem Asafoğlu, Mayor of Yassıköy Caner Imam and municipal council members, Mayor of Kozlukebir Erdem Hüseyin, President of Western Thrace Minority University Graduates Association Hüseyin Bostancı, President of Western Thrace Turkish Teachers' Union Aydın Ahmet, President of Komotini Turkish Youth Union Sedat Hasan, President of BAKEŞ Hüseyin Bostancı, DMT Regional Presidency council members Ahmet Osman Pehlivan and Rıdvan Molla also İsa attended.
