Türkiye
Economy
Opinion
World
Arts & Life
Sports
Photo
President Erdoğan vows defiance at inauguration of Turkey's first 'National Gardens'
President Erdoğan vows defiance at inauguration of Turkey's first 'National Gardens'
Those who tried to dominate Turkey over the last century have been pushed back by the Turkish people, said President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Nov. 17 as he inaugurated the country's first "National Gardens." Click through for the story in photos...
“To those who tried to turn Turkey into their backyard since the Battle of Gallipoli, the War of Independence, and the July 15, 2016 defeated coup, we gave the necessary answer as a nation,” Erdoğan told the opening ceremony of the National Gardens in Başakşehir, Istanbul, referring to decisive historic military campaigns and a failed putsch that martyred 251 people.
"One of the commitments in our 100-day performance program was fulfilled today by opening these National Gardens, and the others will be completed one by one," Erdoğan added.
"We say that we will build the Istanbul Canal, they say 'We don’t want it,' 'Don’t build it”. We will build it whether you want to or not," he said.
Turkey plans to launch the construction of artificial sea-level waterway Canal Istanbul in 2019, the transport and infrastructure minister said on Nov. 15.
"Construction of Canal Istanbul should not be delayed till 2020, we hopefully will start it in 2019," Cahit Turhan told Anadolu Agency’s Editor's Desk in the capital Ankara. Since the first announcement for the canal, several residence projects had popped up along its planned route.
Turhan said 10 bridges are planned to be built as part of Canal Istanbul project -- an artificial sea-level waterway that will connect the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara and the Mediterranean.
Using Küçükçekmece Lake at its entrance to the Marmara Sea and expanding several creeks, the canal is scheduled to be completed by 2023.
The planned canal is meant to provide relief to shipping traffic between the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara, particularly oil tanker traffic passing through the Bosphorus.
The 45-kilometer (nearly 28 miles) canal, which will be built in Istanbul's Küçükçekmece-Sazlıdere-Durusu corridor, is to boast a capacity of 160 vessels a day.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had announced on Sept. 14 that Turkey was putting new government investments on hold as it seeks to rein in spending and halt a slide in the lira, but it was later stated that Canal Istanbul will be an exception.
The estimated cost of Canal Istanbul was a minimum of $15 billion, according to earlier reports.
Here are more photos from Turkey's first National Gardens inaugurated by Erdoğan on Nov. 17.
ALL PHOTOS
Global South needs $2 trillion a year to tame, cope with climate
Winter arrives in Turkey as snowfall hits metropolises
Kütahya province welcomes winter with snowfall
Ancient Dara captivates tourists
Ancient Patara lures visitors
Enchanting sunset scenery from 'Little Venice'
Blanket of snow covers renowned crater lake
Frozen Lake Çıldır lures visitors
Postcard-like winter views from Turkey's Bitlis