Just as he honoured the members of the Muslim community in Romania right from the beginning of his diplomatic mission in our country, U.S. Ambassador to Bucharest, Mark Gitenstein held this year as well, on the occasion of the holy month of Ramadan, an Iftar dinner at his residence in the capital . The Democratic Union of the Muslim – Turkish Tartars in Romania was represented by President Gelil Eserghep, MP Aledin Amet, the 2012 UDTTMR MP candidate Varol Amet, Senior Vice President Samir Menan, Vice Presidents Demirel Caiali and Nagi Gelal, Secretary General and Deputy  Prefect of Constanta County Aidun Curt-Mola, President of the Organisation of Muslim –Turkish Tatar Women in Romania Nubin Urfet, President of the Youth Organisation Dincer Geafer.

Gemila Eserghep, Senia and Bayar Resul also attended the Iftar dinner at the U.S. Ambassador’s residence.

The message of the U.S. ambassador was this time also focused on tolerance and representatives of different religions and cultures living together in harmony. In this context, together with  Muslim believers, representatives of other religions also attended the traditional Iftar dinner offered by the American ambassador.

 ’It was great to participate in such an event, offered on the occasion of the holy month of Ramadan by the U.S. Ambassador to Bucharest, Mark Gitenstein. At the same table, we were Muslims, Christians, Jews…We are used to it, since in Dobrudja, for hundreds of years, we have been living together with the majority population, but also with representatives of other ethnicities. We are nevertheless proud that the United States as well, the guarantor of democracy worldwide, through its diplomatic representation in Bucharest, encourages us in this spirit of tolerance and promotion of our own identity in a space of diversity and we are also honoured by  the attention given to the Muslim community in Romania,we, the Tatars, being an important part of this community’, said UDTTMR President Gelil Eserghep.

The Head of the Muslim Cult in Romania, Mufti Muurat Iusuf, representatives of other diplomatic missions accredited in Bucharest, Romanian state officials and representatives of the Democratic Turkish Union in Romania also participated in  the Iftar dinner offered by the American ambassador. This was the last Iftar dinner offered by Mark Gitenstein, as ambassador in our country, at the end of November of this year His Excellency ends his term in Romania and returns to the USA.

The Prefecture, in partnership with Tulcea Garrison, held a military ceremony to honour the Romanian Navy Day at the Heroes Cemetery, on Tuesday, August 14^th. After the intonation of the National Anthem, there followed a religious ceremony as well as the speeches of the officials and the wreath laying at the Heroes Ossuary. Wreaths were laid by representatives of the local government, of the decentralised state institutions in the area, of some companies and also on behalf of the representative minorities in Tulcea County. The UDTTMR delegation was composed of President of Tulcea Branch Reian Adilşan and members Sagide Dima, Barie Becaş and Ridvan Suliman. The ceremony ended with the Guard of Honour parade.

August 15 – Romanian Navy Day was celebrated in Constanta with a show held on the esplanade outside the Fleet Command Building. The 110^th anniversary of the Romanian Navy Day organised by the Romanian Navy was also attended this year by Aidun Curt-Mola, deputy prefect of Constanta County and UDTTMR Secretary General, and Mufti Muurat Iusuf, also a member of UDTTMR Council of Representatives.

The program of the festivity included the navy sailor parade, ‘Romanian Navy 2012’ demonstrations, which took place on the pedestrian side of the sea wall outside the Fleet Command Building, sea games in ‘Tomis’Marina, official turning on the lights of the military vessels, and the torch procession on the route – Fleet Command Building– ‘Ovidiu’ Square- Constanta City Hall.

On the occasion of the Romanian Navy Day, Mangalia City Hall and Mangalia Garrison held a garden party at the Military Circle. The members of Mangalia Branch of UDTTMR Organisation of Muslim-Turkish Tatar Women in Romania participated in the event, contributing to its success with traditional Tatar dishes cantîk, sarbârma, baclava, sarailie etc.

The 18th edition of The International Festival of the Turkish-Tatar Folk Costume, Dance and Song takes place in Constanta on September 6-9. Organised this time as well by the Democratic Union of the Muslim-Turkish Tatars in Romania with the support of the Government of Romania- The Department of Interethnic Relations and the Ministry of Culture, this year the event will bring together folk ensembles from Turkey, Bulgaria, Macedonia and Romania. Ensembles of other Dobrudjan co-inhabiting ethnic communities will also perform, for the first time, at the 2012 edition of the festival, along with ensembles which are representative for the Tatars’ folklore in Dobrudja. All those who will accompany the ensembles during the traditional parade will also have a surprise premiere prepared by the organisers.
According to the tradition, the festival begins with the traditional costume parade, which is held on Friday, September 7th, from 10:00 a.m. on the route – Constanta Sports Hall – Tomis Boulevard – Alexandru Lapusneanu Boulevard – ‘Soveja’ Summer Theatre, where a short artistic program will take place.
The first day of the festival continues with the visit to the local authorities of the heads of the delegations attending the festival. The festival officially starts on Friday, September 7th, at 7:00 p.m., at ‘Soveja’ Summer Theatre with the opening speech of UDTTMR President Gelil Eserghep. The ensembles from abroad will perform in the first evening.
The second day of the festival, Saturday, September 8th starts at 4 p.m. with a traditional Tatar belt wrestling tour called küreş, and the second evening of the festival starts at 7 p.m. at the same place, ‘Soveja’ Summer Theatre.This time ensembles of several UDTTMR branches will perform as well as one Romanian folk group and also ensembles belonging to other ethnic communities.

The 18th edition of The International Festival of the Turkish-Tatar Folk Costume, Dance and Song ends with a festivity, in which the organisers will reward the folk dance groups and artists with prizes and diplomas.