Yunus Emre Institute has held a digital event to mark April 23 National Sovereignty and Children's Day and 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Turkish Grand National Assembly.

The event was broadcast live at 16:00 (Turkish time) at the social media account of the Institute, and Minister of National Education of the Republic of Turkey Prof. Dr. Ziya Selçuk, Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Turkey Dr. Serdar Çam, Minister of Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ceyhun Bayramov, Jordanian Prince Asem bin Nayef, Minister of State of North Macedonia Elvin Hasan, Minister of Culture of North Macedonia Hüsni İsmaili, Minister of National Education and Culture of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Nazım Çavuşoğlu, Minister of Education, Culture and Science of Bosnia and Herzegovina Prof. Dr. Raşid Hadzovic, Deputy Parliament Speaker of Kosovo and April 23 Kosovar Turks National Day Organization Committee Chairman Fikrim Damka, Deputy Minister of Education of Albania Nina Guga and Deputy Minister of Education, Science and Technology of the Republic of Kosovo Enis Kervan delivered keynote speeches. Many Turkish and foreign ambassadors as well as foreign Turkologists attended the event presented by famous presenter Pelin Çift.

Delivering his keynote speech, our Institute President Prof. Dr. Şeref Ateş indicated that this important day has been a present from Ghazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk not only to Turkish children, but also to all children around the world, and the Turkish Grand National Assembly has been a symbol of the sovereignty and independence of Turkey for 100 years. Ateş pointed out that children represented the very essence of the universe and each child is a unique color and reflection from the same essence. Noting that we all love the land where we were born, but our love for our land and country does not mean that we cannot love other lands, other countries and people of those lands, Ateş asserted that we love not only people, but also all creatures for the sake of the Creator, just as Yunus Emre did. "I wish a happy April 23 to all children of the world who love all people regardless of their religion, race, or language, and appreciate peace and freedom, and preserve themselves, other people and nature," he said.

Attending the program via videoconferencing, Minister of National Education Prof. Dr. Ziya Selçuk delivered a keynote speech, noting that he could the harmony and love among the participants even if they were not under the same roof. Minister Selçuk indicated that Ghazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, as the leader of the Independence War and our first President, demonstrated his great leadership by gifting the opening day of the Turkish Grand National Assembly as a 'Children's Day' to all children around the world, not only to the children of our country, and this was the sacred standing of our civilization in every period in history. Selçuk noted that it is important both to say eloquent words and to say words eloquently so that words can become concrete. "As our distinguished guests who set your hearts on Turkish language with the emphasis that Turkish language is our flag of sound and, most importantly, is a language of peace, you are ambassadors of peace, love and fraternity in our eyes on this holy day," he said.

Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism Dr. Serdar Çam indicated that although he attended the event with a heavy heart in such a difficult period, he knew that this was another era of change and transformation in human history. Deputy Minister Çam stated that we saw that the world entered a new evolutionary process with these technological facilities, and the current experience would pave the way for different breakthroughs in coming years. He wished a happy April 23 National Sovereignty and Children's Day for all children and attendants.

Following the keynote speeches, 100 children from 52 countries performed their shows which were live broadcast. The children in many parts of the world such as Australia, Russia, Palestine, Somalia, Germany, Jordan, China, and South Africa experienced the enthusiasm of April 23 on its 100th anniversary by reciting poems, showing their drawings, and staging dances, giving messages of unity, integrity and peace for the whole world.

The event ended with 40 children from 23 countries singing the song "If Only Life Would Be Like a Feast"

For programme; https://www.pscp.tv/yeeorgtr/1rmxPAeQrXqKN