Antalya Muratpaşa Mayor Ümit Uysal said that the Czech-Turkish Cooperation Park, which was opened in the 'sister city' Prague 6 in the Czech Republic, will also be opened in Muratpaşa on the basis of 'reciprocity'. Uysal said, "We will open a similar park in Muratpaşa at the Kaleiçi Old Town Festival, which we will organize in October."

'Czech-Turkish Cooperation Park' was opened in Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Republic of Türkiye and the start of diplomatic relations between the two countries. More than 200 guests, including Prague Ambassador Egemen Bağış, Prague 6th Region Mayor Jakub Starek, 30 country ambassadors working in Prague and more than 50 country representatives, attended the opening. Deputy Mayor Oya Kansu, representing Muratpaşa Municipality, attended the opening ceremony held in Sister City Prague 6.

THANKS TO MURATPAŞA

After the national anthems of the two countries were read at the opening, which was decorated with the flags of Türkiye and the Czech Republic, Ambassador Bağış reminded that the request to place an Ataturk statue was rejected and the park was opened as a result of diplomatic initiatives. Ambassador Bağış said, "In this process, we acted in close cooperation with our friends in Antalya Muratpaşa Municipality, the sister city of Prague 6, and I express my appreciation and gratitude for their solidarity and common sense approach."

THE LETTER WAS INFLUENCED IN THE DECISION

Prague 6 Mayor Starek stated that democracy and independence are common values ​​of the two countries and emphasized the importance of opening the park despite the opposition in the city council. Starek stated that Muratpaşa Municipality's letter stating that it would stop bilateral relations during this process was effective in the council members' decision to open the park. Muratpaşa Deputy Mayor Kansu said, "This unity will be a symbol of our desire to live in a peaceful world."

THE SYMBOL OF FRIENDSHIP

Acorns brought from Anatolia were also planted in the park as a symbol of the friendship of Prague 6 Municipality and Muratpaşa Municipality. There are photographs of Tomasz Garik Masarek and Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk in the park that stretches for 1.5 kilometers on Ankara Street, where the Turkish Embassy building is located in the Prague 6 district. Atatürk's words were also included in different languages ​​in the park.

THE OTHER PARK WILL BE OPENED IN OCTOBER

After the opening, Mayor Uysal said that a Czech-Turkish Cooperation Park similar to the one opened in sister city Prague 6 will be opened in Muratpaşa on the basis of 'reciprocity'. Underlining that it is unacceptable to reject the Embassy's request to place an Atatürk statue in the park with an understanding that holds Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Republic of Türkiye, responsible for the controversial events of 1915, Mayor Uysal said, “The current stage is important for the continuation of the relations between the two countries, our Municipality and Prague. It was also conveyed to us verbally during the process that the rejection decision was not the official opinion of the municipality. We will now open a park similar to the park in Muratpaşa at the Kaleiçi Old Town Festival, which we will organize in October."