Northeastern City of Ardahan

President Abdullah Gül paid a domestic visit to the city of Ardahan, near the border with Georgia.

The President, greeting citizens along the road to the county of Şavşat, had breakfast at the Şavşat House in the town of Yavuzköy. Welcoming the President on horses, the members of Ardahan Rahvan Equestrian Sports Club escorted him to the Governorate in front of which the people of Ardahan had been waiting for the President with roses and carnations in their hands.

The President were welcomed by Governor Seyfettin Azizoğlu, AK Party MP Orhan Atalay, main opposition party CHP MP Ensar Öğüt, Mayor Faruk Köksoy and other officials.

President Gül, during his address to the citizens in front of the Governorate, evinced his happiness to be visiting the city of Ardahan, said it was the state’s duty and responsibility to leave a better Turkey with brighter future, which is why he noted they are making every effort for the betterment of all citizens.

After performing the Friday Prayer at the Merkez Mosque, the President visited the Municipality of Ardahan. The President stressed the importance of the infrastructure of a city and said the more mayors work for the good of the townspeople and the greater they make efforts to meet the needs of these people, the longer they live with their services in the hearts of the people.

President Gül further pointed to the great development and progress Turkey has achieved in the last decade in such areas as the transportation, health services, education, communication and infrastructure. He also visited Ardahan University where he was welcomed by Rector Prof. Dr. Ramazan Korkmaz, who informed him about the university. The President afterwards had a memoir photo taken with a group of students.

President Gül, meeting with families of martyrs and war veterans, representatives of NGOs and other citizens at lunch, chatted with the families of martyrs and war veterans at their table. Referring to the great change in the cities of Turkey for the better, the President underscored the huge improvement of the infrastructure system of them, noting that when the Çıldır-Aktaş border gate was completed, one will be able to travel from Ardahan to Azerbaijan in only 2, 5 hours and pointing to the importance of the Kars-Tbilisi-Baku railway project in terms of reviving the economy of the city.

The President, afterwards, proceeded to the 25th Border Brigade Command where he was welcomed by General Yüksel Durak with a ceremony and he later signed the Book of Honor. After planting a sapling in the garden of the Brigade Command, President Gül left Ardahan.