EGEMEN BAGIS' PARTY GAVE A NEW DIMENSION TO TURKISH POLITICS

AKP Istanbul PM and Prime Minister's Foreign Policy Advisor Egemen Bagis held a reception at Istanbul Modern Arts Museum on 25th of June, as a part of his election campaign for PM candidacy from Istanbul 2nd region.

Many important personalities from business, arts, politics, media and sports came together in the reception to which Istanbul Mayor Kadir Topbas and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's spouse Mrs. Emine Erdogan attended.

In the event which was set off by the enchanting view of Istanbul Modern, the guests were given pins with Turkish and AK Party flag motifs, and handouts that include Bagis' biography and his activities in the last five years.

The guests had sensitive moments during Mr. Bagis' speech, in which he gave many political messages for the coming future.

In his speech Bagis said that they gave the start of the elections campaign together with the other AKP candidates for Istanbul 2nd region, on 9th of June at Ataturk's statue in Taksim square, which is one of the first monuments of the history of Turkish Republic. After leaving a memorial wreath to Ataturk's statue in Taksim square, we gave carnations to the citizens and messages of friendship, peace, justice, democracy and development; he added and said "As AKP, we embrace the culture of tolerance that Ataturk bequeathed."

"Nowadays Ataturk's ideas are presented to us through filters of some narrow patterns. They are trying to estrange him from us," he said. Certain groups bring understandings for Ataturk from so narrow perspectives that even an opponent party politician made the mistake of saying that Ataturk will be the winner of the elections, he added.

Bagis underlined Ataturk belongs to all and he will always remember this great statesman of vision with love and respect.

It is not a coincidence that rich and developed countries, nations that pioneer culture and art, in short countries of high civilization have always been secular and democratic, Bagis said. "Full democracy is highly esteemed because it mobilizes the secret productive and creative potential of people," he added.

Underlining that AKP struggles to make Turkey a country of high civilization, which advanced in arts and culture; in other words a full democratic nation, Egemen Bagis said "We want a Turkey where arts, culture and human values are respected at the highest level."

At the end of his speech Bagis thanked the guests on behalf of himself and his wife Beyhan, for coming on such a happy day and not leaving them alone. Bagis finished his speech asking the audience "Are you with us for another 5 years?" to which the guests answered with a flood of applause.