Mersin Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Vahap Seçer participated in the celebration program for the 17th anniversary of the arrival of Great Leader Ghazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk on 99 March. Expressing that Mersin, which wholeheartedly supported the Great Leader Atatürk in the National Struggle, offered its support to the Republic with great enthusiasm, President Seçer said, “March 17 is one of the days of honor and pride for Mersin.”
Celebration program; Mersin Governor Ali İhsan Su, Mediterranean Region and Garrison Commander Rear Admiral Fuat Gedik, Mersin Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Vahap Seçer, combat veterans, city protocol and citizens and students attended. In the program that started at Mersin Train Station, the Metropolitan Municipality Folk Dance Team performed their shows. Then, accompanied by the marches played by the Metropolitan Municipality Band, the representative delegation consisting of combat veterans was greeted by the members of the protocol. After the train with the veterans arrived at Mersin Station, the Turkish flag was delivered to Mersin Governor Su by a veteran.
Enthusiastic walk from the Train Station to the Republic Square
The cortege, consisting of protocol members, a representative delegation of veterans, students and citizens, marched enthusiastically to Cumhuriyet Square in the company of the Metropolitan Municipality Band. In the ceremony that continued in Cumhuriyet Square, wreaths were presented to the Atatürk Monument by Mersin Governor Su, Mediterranean Region and Garrison Commander Rear Admiral Gedik and President Seçer. After the wreath laying ceremony, a moment of silence was held and the Turkish flag was hoisted to the accompaniment of the National Anthem. While poems were read by the students in the celebration program, the Metropolitan Municipality Folk Dance team also performed their shows.
Seçer: “March 17 is one of the days of honor and pride for Mersin”
Vahap Seçer, Mayor of Mersin Metropolitan Municipality, made the speech that emphasized the meaning and importance of the day. President Seçer said, “March 17 is one of the days of honor and pride for Mersin. We commemorate the first official visit of Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk to Mersin 99 years ago today. Previously, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk had come to Mersin as the Regional Commander right after the Mondros Armistice Agreement. Mustafa Kemal, who came to Mersin on 5 November 1918, made the first preparations for the National Struggle here. Ghazi, who said in those days, "The real war begins now," took the first step of Turkey's liberation struggle from here, with the strength he received from the people of Mersin. Atatürk's visit to Mersin and Tarsus on March 17, 1923 is extremely meaningful.
“Mersin wholeheartedly supported the Republic with great enthusiasm”
President Seçer stated that just as the meaning of the Great Leader Atatürk's first visit to Mersin can be read more accurately today in terms of the War of Independence, the codes of the 17 March visit can also be read from the point of view of the Republic. would give. Turning towards the republican revolutions, Atatürk often went on country tours so that his ideas would be adopted by a wide base. On March 17, 1923, Atatürk was in our city Mersin as the Commander-in-Chief of the Army and the Speaker of the Turkish Grand National Assembly. He wanted to explain the basic qualities and values of the new Turkey and to get support from the public. Just as Mersin gave full support to him in the National Struggle, he gave his support to the Republic with great enthusiasm. Atatürk came to Mersin with his wife, Latife Hanım. It has a special meaning. Now the woman's place was next to her husband. Mersin embraced them. The most important message in terms of gender equality was given from these lands," he said.
“In the new Turkey, Turkish citizens would be individuals of free thought and conscience”
President Seçer, who also shared a historical anecdote about the people of Mersin, said:
“Atatürk, in response to a person who was introduced to him as the representative of the Christian minority during a city tour, said, 'There is no minority anymore, there is no community. “There is citizenship,” he said. This sentence was the harbinger of the new Turkey. Atatürk gave his messages about our city and our country in the speech he gave on the table in the people's garden. Here he refused to sit in the high seats specially prepared for them, preferring to sit on the wooden chair among the crowd. Government doctor Reşit Galip gave the welcome speech on behalf of our city in the public garden. Reşit Galip's 'Your greatness; It is not because you are a successful soldier, statesman and politician, but because you are a member of this nation' statement that Atatürk liked very much. Ataturk; He said that Reşit Galip was an interpreter of his own thoughts, and that the greatest honor and honor for him was to be a member of this nation. This was also a first. In the new Turkey, he would be an individual, not a subject. Citizens of the Republic of Turkey would be individuals of free conscience.”
“The foundations of a productive and solidarity Turkey were laid in Mersin”
Stating that Atatürk spoke by seeing today's Mersin exactly 99 years ago, President Seçer said, “Atatürk, who drew attention to the geostrategic position of our city even that day, said that the development of Mersin would be in the field of trade. Emphasizing that there is a need for economic victories rather than military victories, Atatürk stated that the people of Mersin should work hard, otherwise they would not be the real owner of Mersin. When we look at what we are going through today, we understand much better the deep meaning of these messages given by Atatürk in Mersin. HE IS; He laid the foundations of an egalitarian, libertarian Turkey that expresses its thoughts fearlessly, believes in reason and science, works, produces and cooperates here in Mersin. As the people of Mersin, our duty was to walk fearlessly on this bright path opened by him. That's exactly what we do. In Mersin, all of us, all colors, live together in brotherhood. Mersin is a city of peace," he said.
“Mersin is a shining star of the Mediterranean”
Emphasizing that Mersin is a city of unity, solidarity, equality and peace, Mayor Seçer also underlined that there is no room for discrimination in Mersin. President Seçer said:
“When we look at a person, we do not see his sect, disposition or political thought. We see him as a human being created by Allah. Mersin is the city of all living things created by Allah. Mersin works with its farmers, workers, industrialists, civil servants, tradesmen, men and women, young and old. Mersin is the city of abundance. Mersin produces, it adds Mersin night to day. Everyone is working in Mersin and will continue to work. That's why everyone looks at Mersin with envy. Go to Ankara, go to Istanbul and ask about Mersin. Everyone said, 'Mersin is a beautiful city. Mersin is working in peace. Because Mersin is a shining star of the Mediterranean. I often hear the following words from those who come to Mersin for the first time; They say, 'We did not know Mersin like this'. 'Mersin is a very beautiful city.' These words make me proud. I am sure that it makes you proud, as well as all the people of Mersin, who walk resolutely in the path of their ancestors. We are proud of our father and we remember him with gratitude. May the souls of all our martyrs rest in peace."
The celebration program ended with the performances of Mersin University Modern Folk Dance Team.
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