İmamoğlu met with the Consul Generals working in Istanbul – www.mahalligundem.com
İMAMOĞLU: “2023 ELECTIONS WILL BE A TURNING POINT”
Ekrem İmamoğlu, Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM), held a year-end evaluation meeting with the Consul Generals working in Istanbul, during a breakfast visit in Beşiktaş Kuruçeşme.
The meeting, which is traditionally held every year, could not be held for 2 years due to the pandemic. “Friendship and solidarity” was emphasized at the participation gathering meeting in England, America, Canada, Russia, Sweden, European Union countries, Balkan countries and many countries. Ekrem İmamoğlu, speaking here, said, “Atatürk, the protector of the Republic of Turkey, whose centennial we will celebrate in 2023, our leadership, expressed his optimism about the future of this country with these words: ‘We will always go together based on the love and trust of the nation.’ These words briefly reveal the basic dynamic of all kinds of social contributions: Always relying on the love and trust of the nation, taking power and legitimacy from the nation… He can easily use the same thing for the world.”
“DEMOCRACY, JUSTICE AND INVESTMENT”
Explaining that the municipal model they built in Istanbul was built on three concepts, İmamoğlu said, “Democracy, justice and investment. Democracy because local democracy is the moral and spiritual commitments of living together. It is the building block of human development and security of life. Justice, because it is the only meeting of peace, peace and solidarity in a city in a sustainable way. Investment, because it is the driving force of social and economic development in a city and must have a humanitarian, champion sensitive and sustainable perspective. We can only reach the point of making Istanbul a fair, green and creative city with more democracy, more social justice and more investments.
“IT IS THE TOOL OF TRANSFORMING INVESTMENT INTO A CENTER OF ATTRACTION”
Emphasizing that all investments of IMM should be carried out in a rational, transparent and possibly only public interest, Ekrem İmamoğlu said, “Investment is for us; It is an intermediary of Istanbul’s rescue and operation corridor cables. It is a means of developing Istanbul’s natural, historical and cultural values by supporting and preserving it. It is a means of preserving the diversity, colorfulness and inclusiveness of Istanbul’s local values and providing precedent on national and international grounds. “Istanbul is the vehicle of an even stronger attraction transitions in every field,” he said.
“WE DOUBLED OUR BUDGET”
Noting a fertile budget of the IMM budget despite all the negative economic conditions, İmamoğlu said, “This is exactly why we have doubled our 2023 investment budget, 2022 Cost comparison, at a rate of 99 percent.” Not talking about the economic impact on the economic system, İmamoğlu said, “We are after providing a green solution. green solution; It can be achieved by maintaining an economy that takes care of the development of the climate, maintains and sustains green growth, and prioritizes the fight against climate change. Our growth policies are based on the European Green Deal and compliance executive bodies. Our ‘Fair Istanbul’ vision is primarily to distribute all the services of this city equally and fairly to 16 million Istanbulites; It is based on securing fundamental rights such as education, health, culture, housing and the right to food. We have taken very important steps on this path, and we continue to do so. We are making great progress every year towards realizing the vision of Istanbul 2050, with more democracy, more justice and more investment.”
“2023 ELECTIONS WILL BE A TURNING POINT”
Noting that the 2023 elections are a turning point for Turkey, İmamoğlu said, “Our citizens will make an important decision in the upcoming elections. This decision will lead to new beginnings in this geography, the scene of struggles for sovereignty, justice and democracy of the past 200 years. We contribute with all the power that can be reached for the achievement of peace, brotherhood, social unity and democracy in this geography. And that he will go, we will celebrate together a result and democracy feast that will inspire the whole world.”
“B40 GROWING”
Stating that the bomb attack on Istiklal Street in Beyoğlu worried not only Turkey but the whole world, İmamoğlu said: “Despite the reality of terrorism, people in this country do not want to give up their right to allow terrorists’ ambitions and to continue their daily lives. Just like people living in other metropolises… It aims very well to improve cooperation between countries and societies on many issues such as the problem of terrorism, immigration and refugee problems, and environmental problems, to lead us to the Target much faster and more accurately. I would also like to express my gratitude for the fact that our local cooperation and solidarity network that we have established between cities for this purpose has doubled just one year before the assistance of B40.”
İmamoğlu said that the B40 network, which was established in November last year with the initiative of 23 cities, will exceed 50 in new participations in his country.