President Gül Visits Northern Cities of Zonguldak and Bartın

On the first day of his program, President Abdullah Gül paid a domestic visit to Zonguldak and met with pitmen at an anthricite mine. The President also had dinner with leading citizens of the city including NGO representatives and families of martyrs and war veterans. President Gül afterwards visited the city of Bartın, where he also had lunch with leading citizens of the city. The President later stopped in the county of Amasra.

President Abdullah Gül visited the northern cities of Zonguldak and Bartın. On the first day of his program, President Gül was welcomed by Governor of Zonguldak Ali Kaban; MPs; Garrison Commander Gen. Necdet Köse; Mayor of Zonguldak Muharrem Akdemir and other officials at Çaycuma Airport.

ZONGULDAK AND VALUE OF SWEAT OF BROW

Welcomed with great enthusiasm of citizens waiting in front of the governorate, President Gül offered his thanks to them for their interest and said Zonguldak reminds one of the value of the sweat of the brow. “You my dear fellow citizens know this value very well,” noted the President, referring to the hard job of coal mine workers.

Lauding the city for its vegetation and natural beauties, President Gül said that Zonguldak is known for its underground richness including iron and still and coal. Zonguldak, he added, has raised many important politicians such as the late Prime Minister Bülent Ecevit and former Parliament Speaker Köksal Toptan, declaring the city to be the capital of the sweat of the brow.

IMPORTANT ROLE MUNICIPALITIES PLAY IN CITY DEVELOPMENT

After the Friday Prayer, President Gül tasted pastries given by a baker and had lunch with officials of the city and visited the municipality, where he was welcomed by Mayor Muharrem Akdemir. The President pointed to the important role that mayors and municipalities play in the development of cities.

Before leaving the municipality, the President chatted with Azra Ceylin, a little girl who has epilepsy.

President Gül later visited the Gendarmerie Command.

PRESIDENT GÜL AT BÜLENT ECEVİT UNIVERSITY

The Presidemt after that paid a visit to Bülent Ecevit University as well where he greeted students waiting for him in front of the rectorate. Receiving a bouquet of flowers from international students studying at Bülent Ecevit University, President Gül had a memoir photo taken with Hilal Masum, an Afghan student. He further was informed by Rector Prof. Dr. Mahmut Özer about the university, whose previous name was Karaelmas University. Universities, he said, are also centers of science and noted that they should serve as the locomotives for the development of cities where they are located.

PRESIDENT GÜL WITH MINE WORKERS

Afterwards, President Gül visited the Directorate of Kozlu Anthracite Processing Company about which he was informed by Director General Burhan İnan. The President also chatted with mine workers who were waiting to go down the number 1 shaft. The President wearing a white uniform was welcomed with flowers by children of the workers and then he had a memoir photo taken with them all.

DINNER WITH CITIZENS

President Gül afterwards met with families of martyrs and war veterans; NGO representatives; officials and business leaders at dinner during which he delivered a speech. Evincing his pleasure to be visiting Zonguldak, President Gül pointed to the significance of the Filyos Project being carried out in the city and predicted that it will be completed in a few years.

PRESIDENT GÜL IN BARTIN

Spending the night in Zonguldak, President Gül proceeded to the city of Bartın in the morning where he was welcomed by Governor Ali Çınar; MPs; Marine Regiment Command Senior Col. Mehmet Erdemir; Mayor Cemal Akın; Gendarmerie Commander Col. Alaaddin Karsavuran and Provincial Police Chief Mehmet Altınok. The President had a memoir photo taken with the folk dance team.

The President later addressed citizens waiting for him in front of the governorate and shared his happiness to be visiting the city of Bartın, which he said is a city of peace, tranquility and union and solidarity and which also enjoys natural beauties. Noting that Zonguldak and Bartın are two sister cities, President Gül reiterated that “we all wish to leave an even better Turkey to our children. This is why we are making tireless efforts to achieve this.”

PRESIDENT GÜL’S VISIT TO MUNICIPALITY

Welcomed by Mayor Cemal Akın in front of the city hall, President Gül underscored the importance that the municipality be very careful not to spoil the natural beauties of the city of Bartın while it carries out projects to develop the city. This requires a visionary approach from mayors indeed, he said.

Bartın, the President continued, is known for its mansions, so he suggested to the municipality that it should preserve these structures as well.

After that, President Gül visited the Marine Regiment Command.

LUNCHEON WITH CITIZENS

President Gül afterwards met with leading citizens including families of martyrs and war veterans; NGO representatives; officials and business leaders during a luncheon given in his honor. The President delivered a speech at the luncheon during which he said: “A President’s domestic visits consolidate union and solidarity among the people, so I always try to achieve this during my visits to cities across the country. I am happy at observing here the peace, solidarity and coordination among our citizens today. We all should cherish these and our country as well. We are all doing our best to raise our country’s level in all areas. I am sure that you are aware that Turkey has achieved great developments in all areas including the social services in the last decade. In order for us all to continue enjoying these, we should work hand in hand. It is natural that there are diverse and different ideas and political approaches toward issues, but we should not regard pluralism as fights and strifes.”

PRESIDENT GÜL WITH CITIZENS ON HÜKÜMET STREET

The President later took a walk on Hükümet Street along which he greeted citizens and he had a memoir photo taken with them. He further stopped by at the Bartın Gazette, which was established 90 years ago and which is still published. The President also visited Talat Gizli, an old friend of his from the Welfare Party.

PRESIDENT GÜL’S VISIT TO BARTIN UNIVERSITY

The President was welcomed by Rector Prof. Dr. Ramazan Kaplan, the academicians and students in front of the rectorate. He encouraged the university to achieve more.

PRESIDENT GÜL IN AMASRA

After having completed his program in the city of Bartın, President Gül proceeded to the county of Amasra. Greeting the citizenswho were waiting for him in front of the provincial governorate, President Gül walked to the Amasra Castle and enjoyed the enthusiasm of the people on the way to the castle.

President Gül afterwards returned to Istanbul.

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