President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan attended the opening ceremony of the Istanbul Airport and the reception held for the 95^th anniversary of the foundation of the Republic.

Delivering a speech during the opening ceremony, President Erdoğan announced that the new airport will be named after Istanbul. Pointing at the 95^th anniversary of the foundation of the Republic, President Erdoğan expressed his thanks to the visiting heads of state and government, ministers, and representative of countries and international organizations who shared this day with Turkiye.

Referring to the plane crash in Indonesia, President Erdoğan wished Allah's mercy upon those who lost their lives in the accident and offered his condolences to the Indonesian nation.

"Turkiye, with the Istanbul airport going into service, has become the most important transit hub"

"The Istanbul Airport, with its architecture, construction, operation, and financing, is a project which is a source of pride for Turkiye and sets an example to the world," President Erdoğan said, and added: "I thank all who contributed to this huge project."

Underlining that Turkiye, Istanbul in particular, has always been at a strategic location throughout the history, President Erdoğan stated: "Turkiye, with the Istanbul Airport going into service, has become the most important transit hub between north-south and east-west axes. The Istanbul Airport connects 60 countries and $20-trillion economies across the vast area it serves."

President Erdoğan further stressed: "With the Istanbul Airport going into service, the European airspace will need to be restructured. Istanbul will now become the major transfer hub, which will greatly change the intercontinental flight routes."

"It is not a coincidence that this masterpiece has been built in Turkiye"

Underscoring that it is not a coincidence that this masterpiece, which will leave its mark on history with its location and features, has been built in Turkiye, President Erdoğan said that Turkiye, by making huge investments in every field, from education to healthcare and from transportation to energy, over the past 16 years, has been preparing itself for the future.

"Today, Turkiye has risen to the 17^th place in terms of national income and to the 13^th in terms of purchasing power parity." Stressing that their commitment to the 2023 goals has been once again consolidated with this magnificent masterpiece, which has been put into service on the 95^th anniversary of the foundation of the Republic, President Erdoğan celebrated the Republic Day of the nation.

"We want to achieve our goals not only for ourselves but also for all our friends"

President Erdoğan continued: "Turkiye is determined to become one of the top 10 economies in the world, and a symbol of peace, security, and prosperity in its region and the world. We want to achieve our goals not only for ourselves but also for all our friends."

Calling on all friendly countries in the region and the world to all together build a peaceful, secure and prosperous future for everyone, President Erdoğan said: "Let us altogether open the doors which lead to affection, peace, and solidarity, not to enmities, wars, sufferings or oppression. Let us all together give the good news of a world, which will give hope to children, the innocent and the oppressed, to humanity."

Also attending the ceremony were President Ilir Meta of Albania, President Sooronbay Jeenbekov of Kyrgyzstan, President Hashim Thaçi of Kosovo, President Mustafa Akıncı of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, President Gjorge Ivanov of Macedonia, President Igor Dodon of Moldova, President Arif Alvi of Pakistan, President Aleksandar Vucic of Serbia, President Omar Al-Bashir of Sudan, Chairman Denis Zvidzic of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Prime Minister Boyko Borisov of Bulgaria, Chairman Ogtay Asadov of the Milli Mejlis (National Parliament) of Azerbaijan, and representatives of many countries and international organizations.

Following the ceremony, President Erdoğan hosted an official dinner at the Istanbul Airport in honor of the heads of state and government who were present at the ceremony. (ILKHA)