CHP's 11 Metropolitan Mayors met face-to-face for the fourth time and discussed pandemic, tourism and earthquake issues together with experts. The Istanbul Convention, which was terminated at the meeting, was also on the agenda. Evaluating the issue, 11 presidents made a statement and said, “We woke up to a very dark day yesterday. In an environment where violence against women increased so much, we encountered an unbelievable decision. The main objective of the Istanbul Convention was to prevent violence, protect the victims and bring the perpetrators to justice. The decision to be lifted is a heavy blow to human rights. "We demand a quick return from this mistake.
The mayors of 11 metropolitan cities, which host half of Turkey's population, came together today, hosted by the Muğla Metropolitan Municipality. Presidents meeting face to face for the fourth time; He discussed the issues of pandemic, tourism and earthquake. He evaluated the termination of the Istanbul Convention, which aims to prevent violence against women, as a heavy blow to human rights. Metropolitan Mayors to the meeting; Ekrem İmamoğlu (Istanbul), Mansur Yavaş (Ankara), Tunç Soyer (İzmir), Zeydan Karalar (Adana), Yılmaz Büyükerşen (Eskişehir), Özlem Çerçioğlu (Aydın), Osman Gürün (Muğla), Vahap Seçer (Mersin), Kadir Albayrak (Tekirdağ) and Lütfü Savaş (Hatay), Muhittin Böcek (Antalya) joined.
"WE REQUEST A FAST RETURN FROM ERROR"
11 Metropolitan Mayors made the following joint statement after the meeting:
“As the Metropolitan Mayors serving approximately 40 million of our country's population, we held the fourth meeting in Muğla, hosted by our Metropolitan Municipality. Before we come to the subject of the meeting, there is an issue we want to touch on. We woke up to a very dark day yesterday. In an environment where violence against women increased so much, we encountered an unbelievable decision. The main objective of the Istanbul Convention was to prevent violence, protect the victims and bring the perpetrators to justice. The decision to be lifted is a heavy blow to human rights. We demand that this error be reversed quickly. In our meeting, the number one agenda item for nearly a year has been the pandemic; We have addressed tourism, which is one of the sectors negatively affected, and earthquake, which is a vital issue, with expert names.
"SUCCESS IS NOT POSSIBLE WITHOUT SHARING INFORMATION AND DECISION-MAKING PROCESSES"
It is imperative that all institutions and organizations meet on a common ground regarding the pandemic that has been struggled for more than a year, but our citizens, healthcare professional organizations and we complain about not being able to access complete and detailed information. It is not possible to achieve success without sharing information and decision-making processes in a pandemic.
The total struggle method, which has been stated from the beginning, should be adopted, the number of cases should be announced province by province, district by district, and provincial sanitation boards should be able to close and quarantine the city and district crossings when necessary. In addition to the announced Ministry of Internal Affairs circulars, provinces should be able to implement decisions on their own, and Metropolitan Mayors who are members of the Provincial Pandemic Board should be regularly informed without discrimination. Regarding vaccines, 70 percent of our population should be reached as soon as possible, and the difficulties experienced in importing vaccines and reaching our country should be eliminated.
VACCINATION SHOULD BE ACCELERATED
Representatives of the tourism sector, which is one of the sectors that have suffered greatly with the pandemic, are unfortunately not hopeful for the upcoming 2021 season. Despite the vaccination, the epidemic has not been brought under control. In particular, the coming April and May months are vital for the tourist season. With the acceleration of vaccination and the support of tourism professionals by the government, 2021 could be overcome with minimal damage.
"WE SHOULD MAKE THE CITIES RAPIDLY EARTHQUAKE RESISTANT"
about 90 percent of Turkey's population are living on the earthquake. The pains and silent waits that we experienced in 2020 and before still keep their warmth in a corner of our hearts. Earthquake is a scientific fact. The measures to be taken should also be made with scientific definitions, and cities should be made ready for earthquakes with scientific criteria. It is up to us to build cities built on solid foundations, to complete urban transformations, to give up utopian dreams that endanger cities, and to implement measures as soon as possible. With the participation of all relevant institutions and organizations, we must rapidly make our cities earthquake resistant.
In all these topics, very valuable names who share their knowledge and experience with us; Prof. Dr. Kayıhan Pala, Prof.Dr. We thank Naci Görür and Osman Ayık for their contributions.
"WE WILL EXIST WITH OUR SOLUTIONS AND PROJECTS"
As 11 Metropolitan Mayors, we want to do our part for our citizens in the best way possible; to take science as a basis in the face of problems; to increase common sense, cooperation and solidarity; All our citizens should know that we will continue to govern our cities with a system based on merit. We will continue to be one with our management approach, solutions and projects, as we do today. Gazi Mustafa Kemal Ataturk founded, they have lighted our way through the revolutions of the Republic of Turkey, we will continue to walk and guided by his struggle to bring our country to the level of contemporary civilizations determination.
GOVERNMENT AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS SHOULD WORK IN HAND
However, after the March 31 and June 23 elections, we see that the central government takes new decisions every day to restrict the duties and powers of the municipalities. The practice of setting new rules and making new laws, which has no logic other than blocking our municipalities working to provide the best service to our citizens, should be stopped. As the government and local governments, we should join together and implement services that make the lives of our citizens easier and more beautiful.
Our 11 metropolitan municipalities continue to be subjected to worse practices, as no steps have been taken in terms of cooperation between the government and local governments, which was spoken at the meeting held on September 2019, 557, 11 days ago, at the invitation of our President.
WE PROVIDE SERVICE WITHOUT PARTICIPATION
Our municipalities are working with all their might to reach every citizen, regardless of who votes for which party. He expects the government to show the same sensitivity; We want all local governments to be treated equally and fairly, regardless of party, city or name.
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