ANKARA - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Wednesday that the parliament was the heart of the Turkish democracy.
Delivering a speech during a special session of the General Assembly held on the occasion of the 88th anniversary of the establishment of the Turkish Parliament, Erdogan said that on April 23rd, 1920 not only the Turkish parliament was established but the foundations of the Turkish Parliament and Republic was laid.
"On April 23rd, our nation has become the ultimate actor of the political regime and the parliament became the embodiment of our national will," said Erdogan.
Erdogan referred to Ataturk, founder of the Republic of Turkey and the Parliament`s first speaker, and pointed out that even in the hard circumstances of the Turkish independence war all decisions were taken through debates in the parliament. Erdogan said all his decisions rested on the democratic legitimacy given by the parliament.
Erdogan said Republic of Turkey had been through hard times and great dangers in the past 88 years. He said thanks to the Turkish parliament which realised the nations desire for change through reforms and bold decisions, Turkey emerged as a powerful, stable and respected country in its region.
Erdogan said the Turkish nation proceeded towards EU membership goal, symbolising Turkey`s ideals of modernization. He said never before had Turkey been so close to realising these ideals.
"April 23rd as the first children`s holiday of the world is also a call for a bright peaceful feature. In this call there is the strong voice of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk who gave this holiday as a present to the children," said Erdogan.
Erdogan said he celebrated the holiday of all children and expressed his wish that it would bring happiness and peace to children of the world.
(OZG-MS)