29.04.2025 11:52
The mayor of Samandağ from the Workers' Party of Turkey (TİP), Emrah Karaçay, received significant attention for thanking the Minister of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change, Murat Kurum, for his efforts regarding the earthquake victims. In a statement on the matter, Karaçay expressed, "I apologize for the disturbing manner reflected in the limited footage captured by the cameras."
The Mayor of Samandağ from the Workers' Party of Turkey (TİP), Emrah Karaçay, paid a visit to thank the Minister of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change, Murat Kurum, for the efforts made for earthquake victims in Samandağ.
However, Karaçay's gratitude towards Kurum disturbed some circles. Following this, Karaçay had to make a statement, saying, "The images that have come to the public's attention today, of which only a 10-second part was reflected, were taken while I was at the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization to follow up on the ongoing works of our Samandağ Municipality. During this visit, I briefly spoke with Minister Kurum and thanked him for his follow-up on the construction of our municipal building," he said.
"REGARDING OUR MAĞARACIK ISSUE..."
In the continuation of the statement, Karaçay used the following expressions: "I did not hold a meeting with Minister Kurum, nor did we discuss our Mağaracık issue during our very brief conversation. I am saddened that this gratitude, regarding our municipal service building, which we are happy to have signed the completion protocol for and has been left in limbo for years, has been associated with the rightful struggles of my Mağaracık fellow citizens. The reality and entirety of the issue reflected in the public is just this.
"I APOLOGIZE"
Moreover, I have noticed that the manner of the meeting, of which only the last few seconds were reflected in the media, has disturbed many of our friends, just like it has disturbed the people of Samandağ. While it is never my intention to cast a shadow on the will of the people of Samandağ, my comrades from the Workers' Party of Turkey, and all our friends from across Turkey, I apologize for the disturbing manner in the limited images captured by the cameras.
"THERE ARE NO WORDS TO DESCRIBE MY SADNESS"
There are no words to describe the sadness I feel for the fact that the extraordinary efforts and dedication of the workers and volunteers of Samandağ Municipality, who have been trying to revive a devastated city without even having a municipal building for a year, are overshadowed by such issues. The entire effort of myself and all my friends in our municipality is to ensure that the public resources caused by the workers of this country are used to meet the urgent needs of Samandağ and for the benefit of the people. We have never compromised on this effort and determination, and we will not do so in the future. I would like to emphasize that we have been on the same point and belief from the very beginning in our populist and public-oriented political understanding, and I kindly ask all our friends to continue their support for Samandağ."