America News Agency

Reviving the "Balkan Folk Dance and Culture Festival," originally organized under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk in 1935 and 1936, Izmir Metropolitan Municipality is hosting the festival for the 17th time this year. The four-day festival, featuring 10 countries, kicked off with an opening ceremony held at Cumhuriyet Square. The ceremony was attended by Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Tunç Soyer, Konak Municipality Mayor Abdül Batur, participants from guest countries, and the people of Izmir.

"A peace campaign initiated by a nation emerging from war"

Following a moment of silence and the national anthem, Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Tunç Soyer addressed the audience, stating that this festival, which is the legacy of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, is a universal step to establish peace among Balkan and world nations. Soyer also described the festival as a peace campaign initiated by a nation emerging from war.

"We dedicate the festival to Izmir's endless struggle for peace"

Mayor Soyer emphasized that they learned from Mustafa Kemal Atatürk the importance of defending these lands and sacrificing their lives when necessary. He said, "The Balkan Festival is the work of the people in our city who are devoted to peace and the republic. It is both a national and a noble matter for Izmir. No one should think that peace will be preserved on its own. Just as war and victories are the result of a struggle, maintaining peace also requires a struggle. Peace is not preserved by sitting, watching, or saving the world at a desk. Peace is not only an idea but also an action. That's why we dedicate this festival, inherited from our father, to Izmir's endless struggle for peace."

After the opening at Cumhuriyet Square, the participants marched in a procession to Kulturpark.

Performances, exhibitions, and concerts

The festival, aimed at strengthening Balkan brotherhood, will take place from September 22 to 25. Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Hungary, Romania, and Serbia will participate in the festival. In addition to folk dance performances, there will also be concerts and exhibitions.