Hakkari Governor Ali Çelik: There have been no terrorist acts for 2 years; this place is now the city of peace.

25.08.2025 22:38

Hakkari Governor Ali Çelik made striking statements in an interview with Bedia Teymur, the Editor-in-Chief of Haberler.com. Emphasizing that the concept of "City of Peace" truly suits Hakkari, Governor Çelik stated, "This is a peaceful and safe city where there have been no terrorist incidents in the last two years. This city, which has been home to human life for 6,000 years, is experiencing its most peaceful period."

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Hakkari Governor Ali Çelik made striking evaluations in a special interview with Bedia Teymur, the Editor-in-Chief of Haberler.com, at a historical madrasa as part of the Anatolian Festival. Stating that Hakkari is the "City of Peace," Governor Çelik said, "This is a safe city where there have been no terrorist incidents for the last 2 years, and a theft case occurs approximately every 20 days. This city, which has been inhabited for 6,000 years, is experiencing its most peaceful period."

Describing Hakkari as the "City of Mountains and Peace," Governor Çelik stated, "It is also the city of love. It is a settlement area where human footprints date back 10,000 years and carries the traces of many civilizations. It has strategic importance as it is a gateway to Asia and the Middle East, located on historical roads connecting to Europe. 89% of the province is covered with mountains. The peak of the Cilo Mountains, Uludoruk, is the second highest mountain in Turkey at 4,135 meters. In addition, there are 5 peaks over 4,000 meters and 15 peaks over 3,000 meters. This brings both geographical challenges and unique beauties."

"HAKKARI IS EXPERIENCING ITS MOST PEACEFUL PERIOD TODAY"

Emphasizing that Hakkari has long been associated with terrorism but now has a completely different picture, Governor Çelik stated, "There have been no terrorist incidents for the last two years. The theft rate is very low, with a case occurring approximately every 20 days. Major public order incidents are almost nonexistent. Hakkari, which has been inhabited for 6,000 years, is experiencing its most peaceful period today. I have personally visited almost all of our 132 settlements. Villages that were unreachable 30-40 years ago can now be safely accessed. Our citizens can travel freely day and night."

QUICK ACCESS FOR CITIZENS

Çelik highlighted the rapid response capability of security units, stating, "In the police area, we reach our citizens in 5 minutes, and in the gendarmerie area, at the latest in 10 minutes. This is the greatest indicator of security."

THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IS UNEMPLOYMENT

Defining the city's biggest problem as unemployment, Çelik noted that industrial investments are limited due to geographical conditions, stating, "While the average unemployment rate in Turkey is 8.7%, this rate is 18.7% in Hakkari. This is a significant disadvantage, but at the same time, our greatest advantage is that we have the youngest population in Turkey. One-fifth of our total population is in the 15-24 age range. This young population is a great opportunity for investors."

In this context, Çelik mentioned the establishment of the Yüksekova Organized Industrial Zone, where 147 industrial parcels will meet with investors on an area of 1 million square meters, stating, "We aim to open job opportunities for thousands of our young people here."

A NEW CENTER FOR TOURISM

Referring to Hakkari's tourism potential, Governor Çelik emphasized that the glaciers in the Cilo Mountains, which have not melted for 25,000 years, along with natural beauties and lakes, create a unique attraction for both domestic and foreign tourists. "Hakkari is one of the most special regions in the world for trekking and mountaineering," said Governor Çelik, adding: "Hakkari is one of the most special regions in the world for trekking and mountaineering. Additionally, with its snow quality, it is also ideal for winter sports. Despite the threats of global warming, the snow quality in Hakkari is very high. We aim to build many winter tourism hotels in the coming years. Our Minister of Tourism was also here a few weeks ago, and important steps were taken regarding the declaration of winter tourism regions."

"4-5 THOUSAND PEOPLE VISIT HAKKARI ON WEEKENDS"

Stating that tourism is not limited to sports and that cultural events also change the perception of the city, Governor Çelik noted that festivals greatly contribute to the promotion of Hakkari. "Visitors see the peaceful environment here, and prejudices are broken. On weekends, 4-5 thousand people visit Hakkari. This adds vitality to both trade and social life," he expressed.

"OUR REGION HAS SIGNIFICANT MINERAL RESERVES"

Çelik also pointed out that the city is an important region in terms of mineral reserves, stating that there is significant potential, especially for lead, zinc, and silver: "Our geological structure was formed as a result of the collision of the Arabian Peninsula and Asian plates. Therefore, there are significant mineral reserves in our region. Additionally, we have three border gates. We are very close to Iran and Iraq. This presents a great opportunity for both export and import. I invite investors to evaluate this potential."

"THERE IS NO ARROGANCE OR SHOWINESS HERE"

When asked to describe Hakkari in one word, Governor Çelik replied "modest," stating, "There is no arrogance here, no showiness. People lead a simple and natural life. One of our most important values is that the elderly are never left alone. Hakkari is the city where the elderly population lives the least alone in Turkey. This is the most beautiful indicator of social solidarity."

"OUR GREATEST STRENGTH IS TO BE STRONG TOGETHER"

Çelik also made evaluations about regional developments and relations with neighboring countries, stating that Turkey's stability will contribute to the peace of the region: "It is very important for Turkey to be strong for peace and prosperity in the Middle East. We have very strong kinship ties with Iraq and Iran. Strengthening these ties in a secure environment will turn the region into a center of attraction. Our greatest strength is to be strong together. The peace of Hakkari means the peace of Turkey."

"THE PEACE OF HAKKARI IS THE PEACE OF TURKEY"

At the end of his speech, Governor Çelik once again emphasized security and reiterated his call for investment in the city: "Hakkari is experiencing its most peaceful period in its 6,000-year history."

Today, this city looks towards a safe, peaceful, and hopeful future. We welcome our investors here. Because the peace of Hakkari is the peace of Turkey.