Turkey’s president wished youngsters a happy April 23 Children’s Day and congratulated the 100th anniversary of the foundation of the Turkish parliament.
“I congratulate the 100th anniversary of the foundation of the Turkish parliament, and the Children’s Day of all children in Turkey and around the world,” Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Twitter.
In a video message, Erdogan addressed children saying: “In a world darkened by wars, conflicts and hunger, one thing that makes the world beautiful is the smile of a child. You are our future and our hope.
“You will be the artists, politicians, scientists, teachers of the future. You will build a fairer world. I congratulate your day once more, and commemorate Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, who gifted this day to our children.”
Meanwhile, senior government officials and politicians under the chairmanship of Parliament Speaker Mustafa Şentop attended a ceremony held at Anıtkabir, the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey.
Vice President Fuat Oktay, main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli and Good (IYI) Party leader Meral Akşener also attended the ceremony.
After leaving a wreath at the mausoleum, the board observed a moment of silence and sang the National Anthem. The event was kept limited as a precaution against the novel coronavirus, with participants donning face masks.
Atatürk’s dream for democracy
Kılıçdaroğlu, in a written statement on April 22, recalled that the opening of parliament one hundred years ago was a reflection of Atatürk’s devotion to democracy.
“Mustafa Kemal says, ‘I am one of those who expect every miracle from the Parliament.’ And the power behind this miracle lies in the principle ‘Sovereignty rests unconditionally with the nation’,” recalled the CHP leader.
The main job of parliament is to help Turkey to move forward by boosting democracy, secularism, social state and rule of law, he stressed, underlining that parliament will still be the symbol of the Republic of Turkey in 2023 despite attempts to make it less efficient.
Children to celebrate day at home
The April 23 celebrations focus on children after Atatürk, the first speaker of parliament, dedicated the day to children, seeing them as the nation’s future. Education Minister Ziya Selçuk told the private broadcaster NTV that a special celebration will be aired through the television channels dedicated to the distance learning due to curfew.
The Grand National Assembly or parliament met for the first time in 1920 in Ankara, the city that would later become the capital city of the republic, during the War of Independence to lay the foundations for an independent, secular and modern republic.
Although Sovereignty Day is being marked for the 98th time this year, it was 1979 when the day started to be called “International Children’s Year” and the state-run Turkish Radio and Television Institution (TRT) started a festival called “TRT International April 23 Children’s Festival.”
In its first year, Turkey hosted children from the Soviet Union, Iraq, Italy, Romania and Bulgaria, and went on to host thousands of children from 150 different countries over 39 years.
