Mejlis Leader Mustafa Jemilev Met Governor of Eskişehir City Kadir Koçdemir

25 February 2013

On February 25, 2013 the Leader of Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people Mustafa Jemilev and his First deputy Refat Chubarov received the delegation of the Turkish city Eskişehir, headed by the Governor of Eskişehir Kadir Koçdemir.

The delegation makes its working visit to Crimea. It includes the Head of Crimean Tatar society of culture and mutual assistance of Eskişehir Mesut Or, deputy of the Turkish Party “Justice and Development” Ulker Jan, deputy of the “National Republican Party” Kazim Kurt, deputy of the “Party of the National Movement” Ruhsar Demirel, the former chancellor of Eskişehir University of Osmangazi (ESOGÜ), member of the Board of directors of the agency of culture of the Turkic world Fazyl Tekin, as well as the member of the Board of the Society of culture and mutual assistance of Eskişehir Okan Gekdemir.

“Turkey plays a special role in Crimean Tatar people’s life and we highly appreciate the position of the Turkish Republic concerning the return and resettlement of our people,”- Mejlis Leader Mustafa Jemilev underscored.

Mustafa Jemilev also told the guests about the national Crimean Tatar system of self-governance, about the “Provisions on the elections of the delegates of Qurultay of the Crimean Tatar people”, providing that the delegates of Qurultay of the Crimean Tatar people to be elected on the basis of the general, equal and direct secret vote.

In addition, Mejlis Leader mentioned about the public and political events in Crimean Tatars’ life, noting that recently there was an active process of exclusion of Crimean Tatars from the republican bodies of the authority.

Telling about Mejlis’ initiative to hold the International forum on restoration of the rights of the Crimean Tatar people in their homeland, ensuring their security and guaranteeing of development in Ukraine the Leader of Mejlis noted that only the joint efforts of the international community could help us restore justice towards the Crimean Tatar people that fell victim to the totalitarian Communist regime.

In his turn the governor of Eskişehir Kadir Koçdemir informed Mejlis Leader Mustafa Jemilev about the International festival of Turkic nations to be held in Eskişehir in March this year. The representatives of Turkic nations and peoples will present their culture and traditions in this festival. “Crimean Tatar heritage will take its special place in this festival and we will be happy to see our brothers – Crimean Tatars as honored guests in Eskişehir,”- the governor of Eskişehirsaid.

In conclusion of the meeting the Leader of Mejlis presented the members of Turkish delegation the reading book in Crimean Tatar language titled “National Heritage”, including around 400 articles, published in newspaper “Millet” (Nation) in 1917-1920. The author of the book is the lecturer of Crimean Tatar and Turkish literature in Crimean Engineering – Pedagogical University, associate professor Tair Kerimov. The book “National Heritage” was published with financial support of the Central office of the Association of culture and mutual assistance of Crimean Tatars in Turkey and technical assistance of information agency QHA.

We would remind you that Eskişehirhas large Crimean Tatar community numbering more than 60 thousand people.