Minister Avcı and children at the Presidential Complex  
Minister Avcı and children at the Presidential Complex

Minister Avcı and children at the Presidential Complex

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan received National Education Minister Nabi Avcı and a delegation of children at the Presidential Complex on the occasion of the National Sovereignty and Children’s Day.

Minister Avcı and children at the Presidential Complex

Erdoğan shook hands with every child as he arrived at the special hall where the cabinet sessions and the National Security Council meetings are held. The president saw 10 year old Zülal Erdurmuş sitting in his chair (it is customary in Turkey that on Children’s Day all state officials hand their seats to children for a few hours) and joked saying “what are you doing in my seat?” 

The president congratulated the special day of the children and said “welcome to the Presidential Complex.”

Saying he commemorates all the martyrs and war veterans on the 95th anniversary of the Turkish Grand National Assembly (Parliament) with feelings of benediction and blessings President Erdoğan went on to say:

“I also commemorate Mustafa Kemal, the first speaker of the parliament which was inaugurated on April 23, 1920, who was the commander of our War of Liberation and who was the founder of the Turkish Republic as well as his comrades in arms with deep respect and benediction. The fact that the day of the inauguration of the Turkish Parliament has been awarded to children as a present is not a coincidence. Look at the photo on the day the parliament was inaugurated with prayers and verses of the Quran. You will see children in the picture. Children are the first thing that catches your attention.

 

“You will strive to secure a good future for future generations”

Saying it is a privilege for the children to be in Ankara because they can see the building of the first parliament and the building of the new parliament at the same time Erdoğan went on to say “The parliament was inaugurated for the children, it struggled for the future of the children and when the time came it handed over the running of the country to those children. Those of you who are visiting the presidency, the parliament, the office of the prime minister, the ministries, the offices of the governors, the offices of the district governor and the offices of the mayors will tomorrow be running those establishments. You will be striving and struggling like us to secure a better future for future generations just as we are doing so today. You will take your place in this sacred march as of the age of 18 as persons who have the right to elect and be elected. Of course the right to be elected at 18 has not been legislated yet but I proposed this. The age of being elected to parliament should be lowered to 18 just as it was lowered from 30 to 25. In several European Union countries 18 is the age for being elected as well as the age of electing. 

In fact it is harder to elect than be elected because it is a hard task to select the best and opt for it. If you are a candidate and if you are fit to be elected then they will select you. I hope the law will be changed so that people at 18 can also be elected as this is important if we are to hand over power to the future generations.      

 

Great transformation in the field of education

The president said bureaucrats, mayors, ministers, prime ministers and presidents, people successful in sciences will emerge from the crowd of children that are being hosted at the presidential palace on this occasion and added that the day will come when little Melek Kaya who gave a wonderful violin concert will give her concerts at the great concert halls.

President Erdoğan said he wants Melek Kaya to give the first concert at the grand hall that is being constructed at the presidential compound and said Kaya will be invited once the construction is completed.

President Erdoğan explained that they have been striving hard since he came to power to leave a better, stronger and more prosperous country to the future generations by undertaking very serious projects.  

Erdoğan stressed that especially in the field of education the government has undertaken a great transformation effort “when you go back home please ask your mothers and fathers under what kind of conditions they were educated. Compare what they tell you to what you have today; you will see the incredible difference.”  

 

“We cannot appreciate the present if we do not know the distance we have covered”

Saying the answers they will receive from their grandparents will shock the students Erdoğan went on to say “if we cannot see the distance we have covered to reach the current state we cannot properly evaluate our future goals. Turkey has managed to reach its current state with a threefold increase in its growth. The Ministry National of Education received the lion’s share and the Health Ministry came second. We want to achieve our goals and fulfill our 2023 vision that will carry us on to our goals for 2053 and 2071.”

Pointing out that the anniversary of the Çanakkale land battles will be held between April 24 and 25 Erdoğan said about 100 foreign heads of state, prime ministers, ministers and envoys are converging in İstanbul to hold a Peace Summit. “We are convening the World Peace Summit and we will give messages of peace to the whole world.” The president reported he will be travelling to Çanakkale the next day with the guests to visit the war memorials.

 

The Çanakkale War Memorial and the consciousness of history 

Advising the children to go to Çanakkale Erdoğan said “you have to see the war memorials and the graves of the martyrs to appreciate what a great struggle our soldiers gave against the whole world.” Pointing out that there were young soldiers who fought alongside Mustafa Kemal who were so small that their rifles touched the soil when they walked “we are the children of that generation. I believe seeing those places first hand will give you a consciousness of history. President Erdoğan went on to say:” Those who do not have a history do not have a future. We should be aware of all this. You will be shocked when you read the graves Ahmet, Mehmet, Hasan and Hüseyin and the cities and towns they come from. You will see those from Tbilisi, from Baku, from Pakistan and Afghanistan. They all took part in our struggle for liberation. The Çanakkale War led to the Turkish War of Liberation that we declared on April 23. Çanakkale is where it all started so you should go there are see everything. I believe our Ministry will arrange for a tour as soon as possible. You will see at the graves that all those cities are as close to us as the 81 provinces in Turkey.

Erdoğan said the children will find the opportunity to visit the simulation center and the museum adding “when a tree falls and its roots are unearthed it cannot live, it will soon decay and die. The same happens to nations who lose their bonds with history.”

Erdoğan recalled the visit he made to the Ahmet Yesevi Tomb in Kazakhstan and went on to say “those who do not know about Ahmet Yesevi cannot know about Hacı Bektaş Veli. Those who do not know about Hünkar cannot comprehend the importance of the Satı Saltuk Tomb. We have to tour these places and read about their history.” 

President Erdoğan added “those who cannot understand the secret behind the conquest of İstanbul cannot comprehend the real meaning of the Turkish Republic. When you look at the photo of April 23 you see a deeper meaning. This photo tells us what we have to do for our children and it is a reminder for us. Thus I wish you many more celebrations like this. I hope with the will of Allah you will see 2071. I believe in 2071 Turkey will be a lot different than it is today, it will be much stronger because we set very strong foundations. You will be able to celebrate the 600th anniversary of the conquest of İstanbul in 2053 and in 2071 you will celebrate the 1000th year of the arrival of Turks to Anatolia. We will not be able to see those days. With these feelings I kiss you all and embrace you. I wish the Almighty to grant you success at school and a successful future.

 

If children smile, the world smiles”

After his speech the president left the floor to Zülal Erdurmuş, 4th grader at the Aydınlıkevler Primary School who took the seat of the president as is customary on Children’s Day.

Erdurmuş thanked Erdoğan for inviting her and her friends to the presidential compound on such a meaningful day. Erdurmuş saluted the children of Turkey and the children of the world and said this is a festivity for millions of children.

Erdurmuş said “Great Mustafa Kemal Atatürk inaugurated the Turkish Parliament 95 years ago which is the symbol of national sovereignty and gave thşis day as a present to the children of Turkey. “Today is a day of love, affection and commemoration. Today as we are here with the children of the world I wish affection, peace and fraternity. If children smile all the world smiles. May we celebrate April 23 National Sovereignty and Children’s Day.”

 

“Pushed into a corner”

Asked by journalists about her impressions about the presidential palace Erdurmuş said they are here to celebrate April 23 and told the journalists it will be more appropriate if they ask her questions about Children’s Day.

Asked about the presidential system Erdurmuş replied “in fact I know only of one presidential system and that is the president of our class. We elected our class president at the start of the term.”

Asked about the peace and reconciliation process Erdurmuş said “I wish fraternity, affection and peace during the process because as the children of April 23 we solve our problems through affection, peace and fraternity.”

Asked about the June 7 elections Erdurmuş said “I am not old enough to vote. Let the elderlies thing aboyut all these.”

Later Erdoğan intervened saying “I thank the president for her short and clear responses to journalists. They really pushed her to a corner.”

 

“Now you knocked me out”

Kent Koop Primary School student 9 year old 3rd grader Melek Kaya gave a mini concert at the occasion.  Saying she dedicated this piece to the martyrs she played the “Çanakkale Folk Song” and then the song “I am on a long and narrow path” for Erdoğan. Last but not least she played “mother of mine, lovely mother of mine” and dedicated it to Erdoğan’s late mother. A visibly moved Erdoğan responded “now you knocked me out.”

Then Erdoğan moved to his official Office and presented children with gifts.

Videos:

MONE © - All Rights Reserved. Services are provided within the framework of the rules set forth in the Privacy, Use and Copyright notice.