Turkey to mark Sovereignty Day, Children’s Day

ANKARA

DHA Photo

Ceremonies will be held all over the country today to mark April 23, National Sovereignty Day and Children’s Day, on the 94th anniversary of the establishment of the Turkish Parliament.

The day is also marked as a children’s festival since children were awarded a special place in the April 23 festivities by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the modern Turkish republic.

Official ceremonies will be held at Parliament, the former Parliament building and Anıtkabir, the mausoleum of Atatürk.

The General Assembly will be held for a special session at the Parliament at 02:00 p.m. under the chairmanship of Parliamentary Speaker Cemil Çiçek. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, main opposition Republican Peoples’ Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli, People’s Democratic Party (HDP) Co-chair Ertuğrul Kürkçü and a representative from the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) are expected to give speeches.

President Abdullah Gül, military commanders, heads of the higher judicial bodies and foreign guests will participate in the session.

Çiçek and his wife are set to host a reception to mark April 23 at Parliament’s Honor Hall.

A 3-D show depicting the Turkish War of Independence will also be displayed in front of the Parliament.

Family and Social Affairs Minister Ayşenur İslam said in a statement that April 23 is a reminder of the responsibility of providing children, who are the guarantee of the future, a world dominated by peace and joy.

“Children are the symbol of both innocence and freedom. This is the message that National Sovereignty and Children’s Day carries to out to the country and the world. This is an invitation,” İslam said.