President Gül Pays a Domestic Visit to the City of Kütahya

President Gül, paying a domestic visit to the city of Kütahya, which he said was of great importance during both Ottoman times and the establishment of the Republic of Turkey. Kütahya he noted is a world brand in the art of china making and expressed his happiness at observing the peace and solidarity among the people of the city.

Welcomed by Governor Şerif Yılmaz; MPs; Garrison Commander Gen. Celal Başoğlu; Mayor Kamil Saraçoğlu and other officials at Zafer Airport, President Gül visited the Governorate on the first leg of his program in Kütahya. In front of the governorate, the janissary band of the city welcomed the President. He noted that he loves Kütahya very much and offered his thanks to the people of the city for their great interest. Kütahya, he said, raised many şehzades (sons of Ottoman Sultans) and noted that the city was of great importance during both Ottoman times and the establishment of the Republic of Turkey.

A CITY CENTER OF CHINA MAKING

Lauding Kütahya for its peace and solidarity its people enjoy despite different political views and approaches there, President Gül declared the city to be the center of china, referring to the phrase: ‘the flower blooming in the fire’. Kütahya, he added, is full of subterranean resources, noting that almost 80% of all the mining products extracted in the country come from Kütahya, where he said he has witnessed great developments beautifying the city as a whole.

Afterwards, Governor Yılmaz informed the President that they planted 20.000 cedar and larch saplings to mark President Gül’s visit to Kütahya.

PRESIDENT GÜL ADDRESSES CITIZENS

The President later addressed the citizens in front of the governorate. Expressing his pleasure at observing the developments in the city, President Gül said that Kütahya is one of Turkey’s most beautiful cities. It witnessed a number of historical events and noted that it proved its heroic character during the Independence War, creating heroes and heroines. He also shared his happiness at observing the peace and solidarity among the people of the city.

PRESIDENT GÜL AT THE MUNICIPALITY

President Gül, afterwards, visited the Mayor’s office. Congratulating the mayor on his success during the municipal elections recently held in the city, President Gül pointed to the important duties a mayor performs. Cities are entrusted to mayors, he declared. Mayors, he added, should be visionary people for the sake of cities and their fellow citizens. Mayor Saraçoğlu noted that they had planted 1871 saplings in the garden of Yedigöller Şehzadeler Park to mark President Gül’s visit to Kütahya, recalling that the Municipality of Kütahya was established in 1871.

PRESIDENT GÜL OFFERS RICE TO CITIZENS

The President later performed the Friday Prayer at Ulu Mosque and offered cooked rice to citizens participating in the activities being held as part of the Holy Birth Week to mark the birth of the Prophet Muhammed. President Gül afterwards met with the leading citizens, families of martyrs and war veterans, representatives of NGOs and business leaders at a luncheon held at a hotel where he also dropped by a china making booth. The President was informed abou of the art of china making by Chairman Sadık Erilbaylı of the Chamber of China Making.

He further delivered a speech at the luncheon. One can still see the traces of many historical events in Kütahya, including the Battle of Dumlupınar among others, he said.

CULTURAL RICHNESS IN THE CITY

This historical features of Kütahya, continued the President, provide it with cultural richness indeed and pointed to the quintessential and very beautiful chinas and ceramics made in the city. These pieces of art are known well across the world, he said.

The President further extended his gratitude to martyrs who he reiterated sacrificed their lives without blinking. The countries that protect and hold their martyrs and war veterans in high esteem are noble ones. Turkey is among them, he emphasized.

“WE MUST CHERISH PEACE AND SOLIDARITY AMONG US”

Referring to the many successfuly completed projects, including the airport, in the city and around it, President Gül predicted that when the touristic potential can be seized, the whole region will benefit from this. If a country enjoys stability and peace, emphasized the President, many important projects and services are conducted for the good of the people, on the other hand, during the times when a country suffers from instability, its energy is wasted, he said. “Therefore, we must cherish the peace and stability among us. It is natural that people have diverse ideas and political stances and approaches, but this is democracy.”

“WE SHOULD LOOK TO THE FUTURE WITH SELF CONFIDENCE AND HOPE”

The President continued as follows: “I suggested to the mayor that he should make meticulous efforts to unearth and promote the historical texture of this beautiful city and that while doing this, he should employ experts in the related projects. Turkey’s future will be even brighter. I know the world and its realities as well as it trends. It has become traditional in our politics unfortunately that there are harsh discussions between the parties, but I wholeheartedly believe that as our democracy takes roots and gets stronger and as the principle of the rule of law is made dominant in the whole country, such traditions will be left behind. Let no one be hopeless about our future.”

PRESIDENT GÜL VISITS DUMLUPINAR UNIVERSITY, GARRISON COMMAND

President Gül, as part of his program in Kütahya, also paid a visit to the Garrison Command, where he was welcomed by Gen. Celal Başoğlu with a ceremony. Signing the Book of Honor in the command, the President listened to a briefing and planted a sapling in the garden of the command.

He further proceeded to Dumlupınar University in front of which Rector Prof. Dr. Ahmet Karaaslan welcomed him. In the meantime, a student named Ceren Buharalı, who came first in a competition which is entitled “A Letter to Our Prophet Muhammed” and which was organized as part of the Holy Birth Week, presented her letter that won the award to President Gül.

Lauding the activities and the campus of Dumlıpınar University, President Gül pointed to the subsidies and technological amenities the state provides for universities and reiterated his expectation from universities that they should contribute to the scientific world and to the development of industry.

Having completed his program, President Gül left Kütahya for Istanbul.

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