Turkish people are the real owners of the 'White Palace'
Turkish
prime ministry responses to criticisms from the opposition about the
'overspending' in the construction of the new presidential palace in
Ankara
The
prime ministery released an estatement on Thursday regarding to the new
presidential residence at Baştepe neighborhood in Ankara and
the purchase of a new government jet.
"The Turkish people are the real owners of these facilities," the statment said.
The new persidential complex in Beştepe, located in a vast farm in western part of the capital city Ankara, which was the private farm of Turkey's founder Mustafa Kemal Atatürk before he donated it to the state in 1937, were built on an area of 300,000 square meters, the compound includes one main building, another building for meeting with visiting heads of state and dignitaries, guesthouses, gardens, a park and a congress center.
Turkish finance minister said Wednesday the building of the new Presidential Palace costs $615 million, and the brand new Airbus A330-200 jet was bought for $185 million.
The opposition had accused the government of spending too much money on the new residence, known as the "White Palace" ( 'AK Saray' in Turkish language) that opened on August 30, and for the government jet.
Some local and international media also criticized the palace complex as a personal property of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
The Prime Ministry has denied the claims by a release statement and said,"The state officials who came to the power by the people's votes will use these facilities to serve the country."
"When the officials currently in office will leave their posts "in the framework of the constitution with democratic elections, these facilities will be handed over to their successors," the prime's office said.
The statement said that "it is up to the Turkish people to decide to whom these facilities will be entrusted."
FOR THE REPUTATION OF THE COUNTRY
Later on Thursday Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also responded to criticisms.
Erdogan explained that the spending on the new palace and the government jet were "necessary" for the reputation of the country.
"Why did we decide to build the Presidential Palace?," Erdogan asked? "Because the building where the Prime Ministry is now is not owned by the Prime Ministry, and is located right on the street."
"When a foreign leader comes to Ankara, the street has to be blocked before the welcoming ceremony can be held there. Blocking the street for official ceremonies does not suit Turkey," Erdogan said.
"Actions like these affect the reputation of the country," he added.
On the subject of the new government jet, Erdogan said that "we act on the principle that time is money. That’s why we have decided to have a jet that will be used exclusively for foreign trips of the president, the prime minister and the parliament speaker. This has also to do with the reputation of the country," he said.
Erdogan has said the former presidential palace in capital's Cankaya district will be used as the Prime Ministry.
"The Turkish people are the real owners of these facilities," the statment said.
The new persidential complex in Beştepe, located in a vast farm in western part of the capital city Ankara, which was the private farm of Turkey's founder Mustafa Kemal Atatürk before he donated it to the state in 1937, were built on an area of 300,000 square meters, the compound includes one main building, another building for meeting with visiting heads of state and dignitaries, guesthouses, gardens, a park and a congress center.
Turkish finance minister said Wednesday the building of the new Presidential Palace costs $615 million, and the brand new Airbus A330-200 jet was bought for $185 million.
The opposition had accused the government of spending too much money on the new residence, known as the "White Palace" ( 'AK Saray' in Turkish language) that opened on August 30, and for the government jet.
Some local and international media also criticized the palace complex as a personal property of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
The Prime Ministry has denied the claims by a release statement and said,"The state officials who came to the power by the people's votes will use these facilities to serve the country."
"When the officials currently in office will leave their posts "in the framework of the constitution with democratic elections, these facilities will be handed over to their successors," the prime's office said.
The statement said that "it is up to the Turkish people to decide to whom these facilities will be entrusted."
FOR THE REPUTATION OF THE COUNTRY
Later on Thursday Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also responded to criticisms.
Erdogan explained that the spending on the new palace and the government jet were "necessary" for the reputation of the country.
"Why did we decide to build the Presidential Palace?," Erdogan asked? "Because the building where the Prime Ministry is now is not owned by the Prime Ministry, and is located right on the street."
"When a foreign leader comes to Ankara, the street has to be blocked before the welcoming ceremony can be held there. Blocking the street for official ceremonies does not suit Turkey," Erdogan said.
"Actions like these affect the reputation of the country," he added.
On the subject of the new government jet, Erdogan said that "we act on the principle that time is money. That’s why we have decided to have a jet that will be used exclusively for foreign trips of the president, the prime minister and the parliament speaker. This has also to do with the reputation of the country," he said.
Erdogan has said the former presidential palace in capital's Cankaya district will be used as the Prime Ministry.
