ANKARA - National Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul, State Minister Guldal Aksit and Labor and Social Security Minister Murat Basesgioglu left on Monday for Mexico to attend inauguration of Statue of Ataturk Monument in Mexico City.
The statue is constructed in La Reforma Boulevard of Mexico City by contributions of the Confederation of Turkish Employers' Unions (TISK).
The Statue of Ataturk will be opened on October 29, the 80th anniversary of foundation of Turkish Republic, by a ceremony attended by Gonul, Basesgioglu, Aksit, administrators of TISK and some other unions, journalists and Mexican officials.
TISK Chairman Refik Baydur and Secretary General Bulent Pirler had seen that statues of world's famous leaders and politicians were placed in various parts of the city during their participation in Trade and Industry Consultation Committee meeting held under the auspices of Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) between April 26 and 27, 2000 in Mexico City. They had conveyed their views to Foreign Ministry and Mexican officials that the Statue of Ataturk, the founder of modern and secular Republic of Turkey, could also be placed there.
After negotiations, the Statue of Ataturk was made by Azerbaijani sculptor Sait Rustem and was sent to Mexico City to be placed on La Reforma Boulevard.
(BRC-AÖ) 27.10.2003