President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Attends Turkey’s Grand Prix Cultural Awards Ceremony

A formal ceremony was held at the National Congress and Culture Center in Beştepe for the presentation of the Grand Prix of the President of Turkey in the fields of culture and art. The President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Ersin Tatar, attended the event.

“This year, we are presenting awards in eight different fields: from literature to library science, from music to theater, and from science and culture to cinema and crafts,” said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan during the ceremony.

President Erdoğan congratulated all the artists, intellectuals, literature experts, and craftsmen who were honored with awards and wished them continued success in their creative endeavors.

Among the recipients was Professor Genül Tekin, one of the leading Turkologists in the world, who teaches Ottoman Turkish, Uzbek, and Chagatai languages at Harvard University.

The Literary Award was presented to Turkish writer Fatma Karabıyık Barbarosoğlu.

The Music Award went to Ahmet Ozan, who has made significant contributions to classical Turkish music.

The Theater Award was given to Turan Oflaoğlu.

The Library Award was presented to Ramazan Minder, Director of the Beyazıt State Library.

The Craftsmanship Award was granted to Salih Balakbabal, a master of mother-of-pearl artistry, whose works are displayed in museums both in Turkey and abroad.

This year’s posthumous Vefa Award was awarded to Turkish cinema legend Halit Refig, who dedicated his life to cinema from 1958 until his passing in 2009. Refig made lasting contributions as a screenwriter, producer, and director.