Statements began to come one after another from the regions among the 19 districts announced by MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli. While population and economic potential were highlighted in Edremit, joy in Yüksekova, expectation in Erciş, and the demand to become a province in Kozan, which has been going on for years, came to the agenda again. District administrators and citizens expressed their expectations after Bahçeli's statement.
"EDREMIT'S POPULATION MEETS THE CRITERIA TO BECOME A PROVINCE"
Edremit Mayor Mehmet Ertaş made evaluations about the population structure of Edremit and the Gulf region and stated that the region has a significant potential in terms of becoming a province.
Stating that according to the data of the Turkish Statistical Institute, the registered population of Edremit is 176 thousand 251, Ertaş said that the actual population is much higher than this. Ertaş argued that when the residents of Edremit and the citizens who spend most of the year in the district but are officially registered in other cities are evaluated together, the population does not fall below 250 thousand people even during the winter months, and noted that they made this assessment based on death records.
"THE ACTUAL POPULATION OF THE GULF REACHES 450 THOUSANDS"
Stating that the official population of the five districts in Edremit Bay is approximately 370 thousand, Ertaş stated that the actual population is much higher. Ertaş said, "I think that approximately 450 thousand people live in the Gulf even during the peak winter periods. In the summer months, this number goes much higher. We are talking about a larger population movement than the population of Balıkesir center."
"AN IMPORTANT CRITERIA FOR BECOME A PROVINCE"
Stating that Edremit and the Gulf region have a strong structure in terms of economic, commercial and population density, Ertaş said that the size of the population is an important criterion in the evaluations of becoming a province.
Mayor Ertaş stated that the region receives more immigration every year and the need for public services increases at the same rate, and stated that Edremit has the potential to gain provincial status in the future.
THE EXCITEMENT OF BECOME A PROVINCE HAS STARTED IN YÜKSEKOVA
Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Chairman Devlet Bahçeli's re-introduction of the "100 Provinces and 1000 Districts" project, which envisages a comprehensive transformation in Turkey's administrative structure, was welcomed with great excitement and joy in Yüksekova, the strategic district of Hakkari.
Being one of the most important crossroads of foreign trade, logistics and cross-border economic activities with both Iran and Iraq, thanks to its location on the historical Silk Road route and its neighboring geography with the Esendere Border Gate on the Iranian border, Yüksekova stands out among Turkey's strategic gates to the outside world. In addition, the district has a great advantage in transportation thanks to its modern airport; It has a greater potential than many provinces with its rapidly developing infrastructure, diversity of economic activities, geographical location and announced population of 121 thousand 969. Thanks to these strategic features, Yüksekova is considered to be one of the closest and most ready settlements to gain the provincial status it deserves in administrative structure.
The people of Yüksekova stated that if the dream of becoming a province that they have been waiting for for many years comes true, the district will be the shining star of the region in the fields of trade, tourism, education and health. District residents said, "Yüksekova has always deserved the best services with its international Silk Road route, strong trade volume with Iran and Iraq, strategic opportunities such as Esendere Border Gate, modern airport and its ever-developing structure. We express our gratitude to our President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who strives for the development of our country, the strengthening of our administrative structure and for our region to reach the level of prosperity it deserves, and MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli, who brought this meaningful project to the agenda of our country. The greatness of our state "And this visionary step will further revitalize border trade, air and road logistics, open new employment doors for our youth and increase the development rate of our region. We hope that this project will be beneficial for our district and our country."
BAHÇELİ'S STATEMENT OF 100 PROVINCES, 1000 DISTRICTS CREATED EXCITEMENT IN ERCİŞ
The '100 provinces, 1000 districts' project created excitement in Van's Erciş district. Erciş Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Muhammet Murat İzgi said that the district deserves to become a province with its population, surface area and geographical location.
Located approximately 100 kilometers away from Van city center, Erciş is among the important centers of the region with its commercial activity, population and economic relations with the surrounding provinces. MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli's re-introduction of the '100 provinces, 1000 districts' project increased the expectation of the district becoming a province. Erciş Chamber of Commerce and Industry and non-governmental organizations have been working for a long time for the district to gain provincial status.
Muhammet Murat İzgi, President of Erciş Chamber of Commerce and Industry, stated that they have been making efforts for years for the district to become a province and said, "We have been wanting Erciş to become a province for many years and have done a lot of work on this issue. MHP Chairman, Mr. Devlet Bahçeli, made a statement on this issue about 2 years ago. The fact that he brought the same statement to the agenda again created great excitement in our district. We continue our efforts to become a province. We want Mr. Bahçeli to include Erciş among the 19 districts that can become a province. As the chamber of commerce, we want Erciş to include Erciş among the 19 districts that can become a province. "We have carried out intensive work together with community organizations. Erciş is located at an important point in terms of geographical location, 100 kilometers from Van, 130 kilometers from Ağrı and 150 kilometers from Muş. Our district, with a population of approximately 200 thousand, is larger than many provinces in terms of population and area. We thank our President and Mr. Devlet Bahçeli for this issue."
Mustafa Altaş, who runs a gallery shop in the town centre, stated that the latest developments made them happy and that Bahçeli's statements excited them.
İzzet Şevketoğlu, who is an arm wrestling coach in the district, said that Erciş deserves to be a province with its historical past, population and economic potential. Stating that Erciş is an ancient city that served as the capital of the Karakoyunlu State, Şevketoğlu said, "It has a greater position than many provinces with its geographical structure, population density, historical and economic potential. We want our longing to become a province, which we have been waiting for for many years, to be realized this time. We are very happy that MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli brought the '100 provinces, 1000 districts' proposal to the agenda. Erciş has suffered in this regard despite the promises made for years. Today this is the case." "A great hope has arisen to eliminate the grievance. We thank Mr. Devlet Bahçeli," he said.
KOZAN PEOPLE ARE EXCITED
MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli's inclusion of Kozan in his statement listing 19 districts that could become provinces created excitement again in Adana's Kozan district. Kozan Mayor Mustafa Atlı expressed his satisfaction that the expectation of becoming a province was brought to the agenda again and thanked Bahçeli. Tradesmen and citizens in the district also stated that they want Kozan to become a province.
Citizens of Kozan, which stands out with its 132 thousand population, history, production capacity and regional location, want their dream of becoming a province, which they have been waiting for for years, to come true. Kozan Mayor Mustafa Atlı stated that Bahçeli's statement created great excitement and satisfaction in the district and said, "Our Chairman has made statements in this direction many times. The statement of 100 provinces and 1000 districts in the 100th anniversary of our Republic has also been on the agenda in the past. However, such a detailed statement was made from the mouth of our Chairman by stating the district names one by one for the first time. There was a very serious excitement and satisfaction in Kozan as well as throughout Turkey. On behalf of our district and municipality of Kozan, our wise leader, State "I owe a debt of gratitude to Bahçeli once again," he said.
"WE EXPECT KOZAN'S RIGHT TO BE A PROVINCE TO BE RETURNED"
Reminding that Kozan was a province in the past, Mayor Atlı stated that they see the expectation of becoming a province as a matter of reputation and said, "We think that, hopefully, with the local governments law, our right to become a province will be given to us again and a return will be made. For this reason, I would like to express my endless gratitude to our Chairman Devlet Bahçeli on behalf of my city and municipality."
Arguing that Kozan meets the criteria of being a province as it is a regional center serving not only its population but also the surrounding districts, Atlı said that there are problems in some services due to the distance from Adana center. Atlı said, "Kozan, Feke, Saimbeyli, Tufanbeyli and the surrounding districts are seriously far from the center of Adana. We have difficulty in meeting our needs such as cemetery services, treatment facilities, and replacement of asbestos pipes that we need to receive from the metropolitan city. Kozan already has the identity of being a center with its courthouse, prison and administrative structure. We are in a position to serve the region. Almost all of the criteria put forward by our chairman are valid for Kozan."
"ONE OF THE BIGGEST ADVANTAGES"
Stating that Kozan will achieve significant gains in terms of public investments, employment and economic mobility if it becomes a province, Atlı said, "We are people who love to produce and know how to produce. We are a pioneer in many products in Türkiye, but we have difficulty in announcing ourselves to Ankara. We have a representation problem. I think one of the biggest advantages will be that Kozan will have a structure where we can send deputies to the Turkish Grand National Assembly after it becomes a province."
Stating that Kozan could be re-evaluated in the incentive system if it becomes a province, Atlı said, "We foresee that Kozan will turn into an important investment platform with public investments, tax advantages, electricity and social security incentives. Our district can become a center of immigration, not of sending immigrants. Our economy will be revitalized. It will also provide serious benefits, especially for our rural neighborhoods. With the establishment of the special provincial administration, a structure will be created where services can be delivered more easily."
"KOZAN IS READY TO BECOME A PROVINCE"
Tradesman Durmuş Ersin stated that Kozan is one of the leading districts of the region with its local riches and production capacity, and said, "We are very happy that Kozan is listed among the districts that can become a province. We thank Devlet Bahçeli for this statement. Kozan deserves it."
Tradesman Hatice İleri stated that the expectation of becoming a province is especially important for the future of children and said, "As women, this statement made us very excited for the future of our children. Kozan has a population of 132 thousand. It is ready to become a province with its production and urbanization. We want Kozan to become a province with great excitement."
