Minister Göktaş: “The AK Party has brought about a profound change in Turkey with every investment it has implemented.”

Speaking at the AK Party Çaycuma District Congress, Minister of Family and Social Services Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş expressed that 23 years have passed since President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan initiated a service-oriented politics with his statement, “Nothing will be the same anymore,” and said, “Just like 23 years ago, we continue on our path with the same excitement, determination, and resolve as on the first day.”

The 8th Ordinary Congress of the AK Party District Presidency was held in Çaycuma, Zonguldak. Minister Göktaş was welcomed by Zonguldak Governor Osman Hacıbektaşoğlu at the entrance of the congress building and then proceeded to greet the guests in the hall. Minister of Family and Social Services Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş wished the congress to be beneficial. Göktaş stated, “I hope that the 8th Ordinary Congress of our Çaycuma district will lead to good things. With this belief, we work together with you, our valuable organizations who are devoted to the AK Party cause, for the welfare of 85 million citizens. As the soldiers of the AK Party cause, we continue on our path with the same excitement, determination, and resolve as we did 23 years ago. Our Zonguldak brothers have always added strength to this noble journey with their loyalty, hard work, and determination. We believe that our AK Party organization will continue to serve our nation with the same determination and work selflessly for the development of our country. This great cause will grow even more with your determination. Our targets for the Century of Turkey will be achieved with your efforts. May God grant us many more years to serve Zonguldak together, shoulder to shoulder, under the leadership of our President.”

“Zonguldak has become the production and logistics hub of the Black Sea”

Minister Göktaş emphasized that Zonguldak has been home to ancient civilizations and has contributed significantly to Turkey’s development not only through production but also with its historical and cultural richness. He stated, “Thanks to the investments made, Zonguldak has transformed into the production and logistics hub of the entire Black Sea today. This geography, which has been home to ancient civilizations, has played a significant role in the development of our country not only through production but also with its historical and cultural wealth. I want to state very clearly that Zonguldak has gained the respect it deserves with the service understanding that our AK Party has spread throughout the country in 23 years.”

“We have made an investment of 189 billion liras in Zonguldak in 23 years”

Minister Göktaş stated that an investment of 189 billion 407 million liras has been made in Zonguldak over 23 years, with approximately 5.6 billion liras of this amount consisting of investments and supports in the ‘family and social services’ sector. He continued:
“In this context, we have combined all our services under one roof at our 6 Social Service Centers in Zonguldak. Since 2017, we have supported 32,389 households through our Family Social Support Program. Since 2013, we have provided training to approximately 3,000 people through our Pre-Marriage Education Program and to 21,581 people through our family education program. As of September, we have also started receiving applications from Zonguldak under the Family and Youth Fund we launched for the earthquake region. Zonguldak deserved this. Thus, we have taken an important step towards supporting young people who want to marry and establish households. We support women to become successful entrepreneurs through the 6 women cooperatives in Zonguldak. Through the Financial Literacy and Women’s Economic Empowerment Seminars, we have reached 10,544 women since 2018. We provide protection and care services to 193 children under the compassionate umbrella of the state with 10 children’s houses and 3 children’s house sites where we provide services with a home-type care model, as well as 1 child protection first intervention and assessment unit. With our 83 foster families, we have provided 92 children with warm homes. God willing, we expect the number of these to increase with the contributions of you, our valuable comrades in the cause. Today, we are contributing to the healthy development of 530 of our children by preserving family integrity through the Social and Economic Support Program in Zonguldak. Additionally, through our 8 Social Assistance and Solidarity Foundations in our city, we are always there for our citizens in need. We emphasize that the care of our disabled citizens is carried out at home in a way that preserves family integrity. About 6,000 citizens benefit from this service. We provide services to 226 disabled citizens at our 1 care and rehabilitation center, 1 hope house, and 2 private disabled care centers. Additionally, we serve 193 of our elders at 4 nursing homes and 1 active living center. God willing, Zonguldak will soon have a new nursing home. As a ministry, we will continue to provide our social services with a rights-based understanding for the disabled, elderly, women, children, martyrs, and veterans. The AK Party has also brought about a profound change in Turkey with every investment it has implemented. Today, every congress we hold under this movement has become a strong symbol of our unity and solidarity. Each of our congresses has been a declaration of Turkey’s strength to the world against those who betray our homeland and do wrong to our people.”

“This struggle will continue until a more just world order is established where justice and peace prevail”

Minister Göktaş stated that the AK Party continues to stand by the rightful and oppose oppression around the world with a spirit of unity that transcends borders and said, “This movement, which has roots dating back centuries, continues to be the voice of all nations fighting not only for Turkey’s rise but also for its future. This voice shouts from the podium of the United Nations to the faces of all states that ‘Israel is committing ethnic cleansing and open genocide by gradually occupying Palestinian territories.’ This cause has become the hope for women and children suffering from oppression in Palestine. The AK Party continues to stand by the rightful and oppose oppression with a spirit of unity and brotherhood that transcends borders, working for the establishment of justice and peace around the world. This struggle is a fight for the peace, security, and future of all the oppressed, especially in our heartfelt geography. This struggle will continue until a more just world order is established where justice and peace prevail. Our AK Party organization will continue to stand firmly with our leader, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the voice of the oppressed in the world, from Somalia to Myanmar, from Lebanon to Ethiopia, from Libya to Palestine.”

“We are now in an era where the rules of the world are changing”

Minister Göktaş stated that there is a powerful Turkey that is influential in its region and has a say in the world. He said, “We are now in an era where the rules of the world are changing. There is now a powerful Turkey that has power in its region, has a say in the world, does not remain a spectator to what is happening, and has effective power. There is a Turkey that builds bridges from Africa to the Middle East, from Europe to East Asia, and develops new collaborations, changing the game. The AK Party has become a movement that opens the way for our people by removing all kinds of tutelage and siege, repelling bloody coup plotters, and dismantling terrorist dens. Undoubtedly, the trust and support of our citizens have been our greatest source of strength in overcoming all obstacles in front of us. We must not forget that we are members of a cause that regards the responsibility of our citizens, the welfare and security of our country, and every inch of our land as sacred. My brothers, our road is long, our load is heavy, and our responsibilities are immense. On this path, we will continue to walk saying ‘no stopping, we continue on our way.’ We will say, ‘whoever turns back, I will not turn back from my path’ and we will never deviate from the path of serving our country. We will say that the name of hope, action, and the future is the AK Party. Together, we will continue to work tirelessly, hand in hand. We will bring our country to our Century of Turkey targets hand in hand. We will achieve this under the leadership of our President; together with our deputies, mayors, primary members, women’s branches, young brothers, and all of you. With each congress, the AK Party grows, strengthens, and continues its efforts renewed. With this belief, I wish the Çaycuma district congress to bring blessings to both our AK Party organization and our country. We could not attend the congress in our Central District of Zonguldak due to our President’s program in Hatay yesterday. I would like to send my greetings and affection to our AK Party Central Organization from here. I wish success to both our Çaycuma District President Birol Yiğit and our Central District President Sezer Köroğlu and their new administrations. As I conclude my remarks, I wish urgent healing for our injured due to the attack on TUSAŞ, the jewel of our defense industry, and I pray once again for mercy from God for our martyrs. May the families, loved ones, and our glorious nation be consoled. We will continue our struggle with determination against those who threaten our country’s peace and tranquility, those who betray our homeland and nation, terrorist organizations, and those who support terrorism. With these feelings, I once again wish our congress to be beneficial.”

At the congress, the current District President Birol Yiğit was re-elected. The congress was attended by AK Party Samsun Deputy Ersan Aksu, AK Party Zonguldak deputies Muammer Avcı, Saffet Bozkurt, and Ahmet Çolakoğlu, Provincial President Mustafa Çağlayan, representatives of political parties, and representatives of civil society organizations. Minister Göktaş also visited the Devrek Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center during his district visit.