Türkiye marks National Sovereignty and Children's Day
People from all over Türkiye celebrate the 102nd anniversary of the Turkish parliament, a day that was dedicated to children as the nation's future by the country's founding father Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.
Türkiye celebrates National Sovereignty and Children's Day, as well as the 102nd anniversary of the foundation of the country's parliament.
Top government officials and politicians attended a ceremony held on Saturday in the capital Ankara at Anitkabir, the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the Turkish Republic.
Speaking at a children's event in Istanbul, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said: "Children are the most important source of motivation for our efforts to put an end to wars, solve crises, and foster a climate of peace and security."
"The ears of children should ring not with the sound of bombs, but with the sounds of laughter and joy," Erdogan added.
President and First Lady Emine Erdogan then handed out gifts to children.
The special day in Turkiye is marked by a festival for children, and public offices, schools, and the private sector also hold programs.
We celebrate April 23 National Sovereignty and Children's Day of our children, the elders and betters of our future, with great joy and happiness.🎈🎈
— Republic of Türkiye Directorate of Communications (@Communications) April 23, 2022
We are proud of all our children and work devotedly for the sake of them, the architects of our future. 🇹🇷 pic.twitter.com/peHWiKgpBT
Dedicated to children
The Turkish Ministry of National Defence hosted the children of Türkiye's martyrs and veterans to mark the day, with the Minister of National Defence Hulusi Akar present.
The pleasant moments were shared in a tweet from the ministry's official account.
Millî Savunma Bakanı Hulusi Akar ve TSK Komuta Kademesi’ nin şehit ve gazilerimizin kıymetli evlatlarıyla buluşmasında keyifli anlar yaşandı. Çocuklarımızla yakından ilgilenen Bakan Akar ve Komutanlar, onlarla tek tek sohbet etti.https://t.co/yNifS0gFq7#MSB #HulusiAkar pic.twitter.com/DowMYxe75l
— T.C. Millî Savunma Bakanlığı (@tcsavunma) April 23, 2022
The Grand National Assembly met for the first time in Ankara in 23 April 1920 during the Turkish War of Independence to lay the foundations for an independent and modern republic.
The April 23 celebrations focus on children after Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the first speaker of the parliament, dedicated the day to children as the nation's future.