ANKARA 

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National Sovereignty and Children's Day in Turkiye

Turkiye on Saturday celebrated National Sovereignty and Children's Day, as well as the 102nd anniversary of the foundation of the country's parliament.

In the morning, top government officials and politicians attended a ceremony held in the capital Ankara at Anitkabir, the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the Turkish Republic, including Parliament Speaker Mustafa Sentop, National Education Minister Mahmut Ozer, and other dignitaries.

Speaking at a children's event in Istanbul, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said: "Children are the most important source of motivation for our efforts to put an end to wars, solve crises, and foster a climate of peace and security."

"The ears of children should ring not with the sound of bombs, but with the sounds of laughter and joy," Erdogan added.

President and First Lady Emine Erdogan then handed out gifts to children.

The special day in Turkiye is marked by a festival for children, and public offices, schools, and the private sector also hold programs.

"Happy 102nd anniversary of the Grand National Assembly or Turkiye (parliament) and April 23 National Sovereignty and Children's Day. I commemorate all the heroes of our national struggle, especially Gazi Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, with mercy and gratitude," said Vice President Fuat Oktay.

The April 23 celebrations focus on children after Ataturk, the first speaker of the parliament, dedicated the day to children as the nation's future.

The Grand National Assembly met for the first time in Ankara in 1920 during the War of Independence to lay the foundations for an independent, secular and modern republic.