42 pupils of grades 1 – 8 qualified for the final of ‘Güzel tǐlǐm’ – My Beautiful Language’ contest organised on the occasion of the ‘Tatar Language Day’ by the Democratic Union of the Turkish – Muslim Tatars in Romania in collaboration with the Department for Interethnic Relations of the Romanian Government.
The preselection was made out of 300 Tatar children from all UDTTMR branches participating in the Tatar language courses organised by UDTTMR’s Community School. The competition took place on May 4 at The Military Circle in Medgidia, one day before The ‘Tatar Language Day’ and consisted of two categories: grades 1-4 and grades 5-8.
In his opening remark, UDTTMR President Gelil Eserghep said: ‘We are the only minority in Romania who have an official day to celebrate our native language, and for this we should be thankful to the Romanian state. For us, Tatars, this is even more important as we do not have a country of our own and through this celebration and the events organised on this occasion we are able to keep and especially to promote our language and through it our own own identity’.
After two hours, regarding the first category, grades 1- 4, the victory podium was occupied by Aysel Eylul Ablez ( the 3rd place, from Techirghiol, teacher Aitul Ismail) , Ailin Omer (the 2nd place from Constanta, teacher Neriman Ibraim) and Merve – Nur Memet (the 1st place, from Cobadin, teacher Sevinc Memet).
Regarding the second category, grades 5-8, the 3rd place was awarded to two contestants, Atina Abiltar (from Medgidia, teacher Nurdan Bolat) and Sevda Caiali (from Mihail Kogalniceanu, teacher Ghiulsen Hagiveli), the 2nd place was awarded to Ailis Molamet (from Cobadin, teacher Sevinc Memet) and the 1st place was awarded to Kansel Gelil (from Valu lui Traian, teacher Ulgean Ene).
The jury, composed of UDTTMR President Gelil Eserghep UDTTMR MP Varol Amet, undersecretary of state Aledin Amet and prof. Yusuf Nevzat also awarded a special mention to the third –grader Daria Peltea, soloist in the group of mandolins of UDTTMR Medgidia Branch, the Romanian girl performing a number of traditional Tatar songs in the show, as well as in other cultural events of the Tatar community.
The winners received diplomas and cash prizes from the organisers, and all 42 pupils in the final will be offered a seven-day youth camp in Predeal during the summer holiday. In addition, as UDTTMR President Gelil Eserghep announced, all the other children, up to 300, which did not qualify for the final, will also be offered a one-day trip in Tulcea during the summer holiday as well.
‘Karasu’ ensemble of UDTTMR Medgidia Branch and ‘Mini-Yıldızlar’ ensemble of UDTTMR Mihail Kogalniceanu Branch as well as Tatar singer Elfyn also performed in Medgidia, along with the competitors and the mandolin ensemble.
Among the participants in the event in Medgidia there also were Özgen Topcu, Vice-Consul of the Republic of Turkey in Constanta and guests from Bulgaria, representatives of the Tatar community in Dobrich.
The celebration of the Tartar language will continue on Sunday, May 12, in Mangalia.

UDTTMR Press Department