Head of Communications Duran: “Peace is possible. Brotherhood is possible. Living together is possible. Every child who takes part in our festival, forms friendships here and creates cherished memories represents, for us, a strong step towards the future. Every child’s voice rising here is the hope of humanity.”
The Presidency's Head of Communications, Burhanettin Duran, attended the TRT's 48th International April 23 Children's Festival Gala Programme, held at the Beştepe Nation’s Congress and Culture Centre.
Opening his remarks by greeting the children, Head of Communications Duran said: “As a child at your age, I used to watch the 23 April festivals on TRT with great excitement. It is a great pleasure for me to be here today in person. This meaningful tradition, which has continued since 1979 for nearly half a century, constitutes a highly valuable platform that brings together the children of our country with children from around the world.”
Noting that this year’s event, organised under the theme “The Future Belongs to Children”, continues as an important pillar of cultural diplomacy, Head of Commucations Duran stated: “Even if children come from different parts of the world, their joy and happiness speak the same language. This shared language reminds us of our responsibility to build a world in which children can grow up in safety, access opportunities equally, and pursue their dreams freely. Indeed, the future gains meaning to the extent that children’s dreams meet opportunities rather than boundaries.”
“You have reminded the world of the responsibility to leave behind a fair world”
Emphasising that the festival, held under the auspices of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, carries even deeper significance in light of the current global context, Head of Communications Duran continued:
“Children in various parts of the world are struggling with malnutrition, pandemics, and a lack of access to basic education. Millions of children are trying to hold on to life under the shadow of hunger, poverty, war, and forced displacement. In Gaza, where we witness one of the gravest examples of this reality, children have been deprived of their most fundamental rights and have been forced to shoulder heavy burdens in a struggle for survival.”
Stating that children are the first and most vulnerable targets of wars and conflicts in different regions, Head of Communications Duran added:
“Mr President, you have voiced all these humanitarian crises across the world in the strongest terms on every global platform. You have repeatedly reminded the entire international community that leaving behind a fair world for all children—particularly the precious children of Palestine, who courageously endure all forms of oppression—is an indispensable responsibility. Unfortunately, today the world continues to be shaped under the shadow of conflicts and deep inequalities. The need for a fairer and more inclusive order is becoming increasingly visible and urgent with each passing day. This is not only a matter of today, but also of the world we will leave to our children. And this call transcends political borders; it is a call to the global conscience.”
“Living together is possible”
Highlighting that the gathering of children from 27 countries on the same stage at the gala conveyed a powerful message to humanity, Head of Communications Duran concluded:
“This message is clear: Peace is possible. Brotherhood is possible. Living together is possible. Every child who participates in our festival, forms friendships here and builds beautiful memories represents, for us, a strong step towards the future. Every child’s voice rising here is the hope of humanity. On this occasion, the significance of Ghazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk dedicating 23 April—the day on which our national sovereignty was proclaimed—to children once again becomes evident. This meaning continues to resonate with audiences through the vision of our President, who prioritises justice and peace across the world. I once again extend my heartfelt congratulations on the 106th anniversary of the opening of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye and on 23 April National Sovereignty and Children’s Day. On this meaningful day, I commemorate with mercy, gratitude and respect all the heroes of our War of Independence. I pray for Allah’s mercy upon the children we lost in the recent attack and our martyred teacher, and extend my condolences to their bereaved families.”