Handover ceremony at the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change

Murat Kurum, who was appointed to the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, took over the duty from Mehmet Özhaseki. Due to health issues, Mehmet Özhaseki, who requested to be relieved of his duties, was replaced by Murat Kurum by the decision of the Presidency at the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change. Murat Kurum took over the duty from Özhaseki with a handover ceremony held at the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change.

Özhaseki stated at the ceremony that he started his public service exactly 30 years ago. He mentioned that he first served as the Mayor of Melikgazi and then continued as the Mayor of Kayseri, saying “Then I came to Ankara upon the invitation of our President. I tried to fulfill an honorable duty at the headquarters, then at the ministry, again at the headquarters, and then again at the ministry, giving all my knowledge, experience, and effort.”

“We are accountable to the laws” said Özhaseki, expressing that he is very at peace in his conscience. He continued by saying, “We are accountable to the laws, responsible, and will be held accountable. At the same time, we will face our Lord. Being able to leave there with dignity is much more important. Today, as I leave from here, I am leaving in peace with my conscience for the services I have rendered. I am entrusting the duty to a friend and brother who I believe will do the job as well as I did.”

“Forgive us for any wrongs” emphasized Özhaseki, stating that continuity in the state is essential. He said, “We have been walking the path for years under the leadership of our President. We have served the country greatly. Praise be to Allah, today I am concluding this public duty. I ask you to forgive us for any wrongs.”

Minister Murat Kurum expressed his gratitude to Özhaseki by saying, “I thank our President who has entrusted me with this duty again. I thank our Minister, our elder brother whom we have taken as an example, with whom I am proud to have served since 1994 in various positions such as Mayor of a Metropolitan Municipality, Ministry, and Deputy General Chairman. They exerted every effort. I thank them on my behalf.”

“Our goal is to serve the nation” stated Minister Kurum, continuing his speech by saying, “To serve our dear nation, who embraces us like a brother and a son. I have worked day and night for this. At times, I became the ‘Karamurat’ of Elazığ. At times I became the ‘Murat’ of Istanbul. In times of earthquake, flood, landslide, I have made efforts for our people. I have tried to do my best. My aim will be to do the same for our dear nation as I have done in the past.”

“We will keep our promises to our dear nation” emphasized Kurum, pointing out that Turkey is a country prone to earthquakes. He said, “We have experienced many pains and do not want to experience them again. With the desire to deliver the homes to our brothers affected by the disaster in 11 provinces as soon as possible, we will make every effort with our entire team to fulfill our promises to the citizens and our dear nation with the duty we have taken over from our Minister.”

Earthquake

Drawing attention to urban transformation, Kurum said, “Today, we aim to carry out all kinds of efforts, desires, and work needed for earthquake transformation in 81 provinces, especially in Istanbul, without any political bias. We want to realize earthquake transformation by putting our hands, bodies, and efforts with our Governors, Mayors, and Members of Parliament.”