Turkey is celebrating the April 23rd National Sovereignty and Children's Day on Monday.Ceremonies also take place in foreign representations and Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).
Early in the day, high-level state officials led by Turkish Parliament Speaker Cemil Cicek visited the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, founder of the modern Republic of Turkey.
Deputy Premier Bekir Bozdag, National Defense Minister Ismet Yilmaz, Energy & Natural Resources Minister Taner Yildiz, several other ministers, Deputy Parliament Speaker Mehmet Saglam, executives from political parties, deputies and personnel of Parliament accompanied Cicek.
Cicek and other officials laid a wreath at the Mausoleum, observed a minute of silence, sang National Anthem, and signed the special book.
Turkish President Abdullah Gul will receive children of martyrs and veterans as well as coming from seven regions of Turkey at Cankaya Presidential Palace in Ankara, while Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan will also meet children at the Prime Ministry residence.
National Education Minister Omer Dincer will attend ceremonies at 19 Mayis Stadium in Ankara.
Acrobatics team "Turkish Stars" of Turkish Air Forces will display a show within the scope of the celebrations.
It was on April 23, 1920, during the War of Independence, that the Grand National Assembly met in Ankara and laid down the foundations of a new, independent, secular, and modern republic from the ashes of the Ottoman Empire.
Mustafa Kemal Ataturk also dedicated this day to the children of the country to emphasize that they were the future of the new nation. Since then, April 23rd National Sovereignty and Children's Day is celebrated in Turkey as a national day. April 23 is the only children's festival in the world.
Every year on this date, children from all around the world come together in Turkey to enjoy Children's Day celebrations and festivities in a hope that these memories of friendly atmosphere will contribute to a future of enhanced brotherhood and peace among nations.
The President, the Prime Minister, the Cabinet ministers, provincial governors all turn over their positions to children's representatives on April 23. Children also replace the parliamentarians in the Grand National Assembly and hold a special session to discuss matters concerning children's issues. (AA)
