Speaker of Kuwait National Assembly His Excellency Marzouq Al-Ghanim
His Highness Sheikh Nasser Muhammed Al-Sabah
Minister of Information His Excellency Mohammad Nasser Al Jabri

Excellencies,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

I welcome you all distinguished guests accompanying us in our 29 October Republic Day. I celebrate the Day of our citizens who live in our country and abroad which is source of joy and pride. Today, I also commemorate Ghazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and all our heroes.
This is my first national day reception in lovely Kuwait where I feel myself at home because of welcoming hospitality of Kuwaiti friends.

I also came a country, of which relations with Turkey is excellent. This success mostly owes to leadership of our countries President Erdoğan and His Highness Amir Sheikh Sabah. In spite of their highly busy programs, the mutual visits of them in 2017 reveals the scope and depth of our relations. Other high level visits particularly at the level of Speaker of Parliaments, Prime Minister and Ministers complete this picture.

The visit of President Erdoğan to Kuwait in May 2017 was held on the occasion of the groundbreaking ceremony of the Kuwait New Airport, which is built by Turkish Limak Company. Limak is also the partner of consortium built The Istanbul Grand Airport opened a few hours before.

Distinguished guests,

The Turkish Republic has many historical successes in last 95 years and it became a modern democratic Republic. One of these success stories is in construction sector. Turkish construction sector ranks second in the world. Only in Turkey, we have carried globally acclaimed grand projects that connect Europe and Asia in the last 15 years such as the “Marmaray” and Eurasia undersea tunnels, the Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge, the Osmangazi Bridge and the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars Railway. Today, on the 95th anniversary of the Proclamation of our Republic, we witnessed another success story, the opening ceremony of the Grand Istanbul Airport. I would like also thank Minister of Public Works and Minister of State for Municipal Affairs His Excellency Hussam Abdullah Al-Roumi who participated to the opening ceremony in the name of Kuwait.

The Istanbul Grand Airport will become the largest airport in the world once all its phases are completed. It has a capacity of 90 million passengers per year even at its initial phase and provides unmatched logistical opportunities by virtue of its 76 square km total area. It will be the harbinger of a new age in world aviation and a new standard for service in this sector. The Istanbul Grand Airport will also facilitate easier and more efficient connections within the wider geography in which Turkey stands at the center.

LİMAK shares Turkey’s experience in the construction sector with Kuwaiti brothers by building Kuwait’s New Airport with the same great strategic vision.

Turkish contractors contribute to the infrastructure development projects in Kuwait and they are ready to do more. Turkish construction companies carrying great projects in Kuwait. I do not want to bother you with mentioning all but in this great day I have to mention two other partner of Istanbul Grand Airport project like LİMAK working also in Kuwait. Terminal 4 of Kuwait Airport was constructed by the Cengiz İnşaat. On the other hand, another partner KOLİN has been carrying out great infrastructure projects here. Not only these companies but all Turkish construction sector investment in Kuwait reached 7 billion. We continue to encourage the Turkish businessmen to invest in Kuwait because we consider the development of Kuwait as our development. In this regard, we hope Kuwait 2035 Vision can reach its objectives.

Dear guests,

Before concluding my speech, I would like to read out the message of the President of the Republic of Turkey, H.E. Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, sent to us on the occasion of our Republic Day:
“At the 95th anniversary of the proclamation of our Republic, I commemorate all our heroes, in particular Ghazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, leading our victory on the War of Liberation and the foundation of our new state.
I express our gratitude to our Members of Parliament making efforts for the liberation, development, growth and strengthening of our country as the representatives of our national will, since the First Assembly up until now.
I wish Allah’s mercy upon all our ancestors, martyrs and veterans shedding blood and making great efforts for every inch of the Anatolian territory, our millennial motherland.
The sacred memory of the members of our security forces and citizens who lost their lives during the fight against terrorism and on July 15th will forever remain in our nation’s heart and maintain their place in the identity of our state.
I see each step we have taken towards an advanced democracy and a strong economy in our efforts to carry our country “beyond the level of contemporary civilizations” as a light kindled for our glorious future.
Our new airport, which we are inaugurating today in İstanbul, is one of these lights.
Inshallah, we will crown our great and everlasting journey, starting from Seljuk Empire to Ottoman Empire and reaching the young Republic of Turkey, with our 2023 goals and carry it to a higher level with our visions for 2053 and 2071.
Each progress starting from our victory in Manzikert and continuing with the other ones in Çanakkale, Kut’ul Amare, Dumlupınar and Cyprus during the last century and our humanitarian stance in Syria is the symbol of the noble stance of our nation.
Each success of Turkey also nurtures, boosts and catalyses the hopes in the hearts of the oppressed and victims in our region and all over the world, as well as in the common conscience of mankind.
For this reason, our country ranks first in humanitarian assistance relative to its national income, although it is the world’s 17th biggest economy.
While everyone closed their doors and hearts to asylum seekers, Turkey heartily welcomed them, being the only country that rightly fulfils its humanitarian responsibilities.
It is quite an honour for us to make history as a nation that shares its home and bread with the oppressed, instead of turning its back on them, and always makes its choices in favour of equity and justice.
We will make no concessions to our stance, and never allow any obstacle, sabotage or design prevent us from reaching our goals.
We will continue working with all our strength for the Republic of Turkey to stand forever, as we reach the 95th anniversary of its foundation.
With these thoughts, I celebrate once again our 29 October Republic Day.
Recep Tayyip ERDOĞAN,
President of the Republic of Turkey"

Distinguished Guests,
Let me conclude my words by expressing our gratitude to the Kuwaiti Authorities
and the Kuwaiti people who reveal their hospitality and friendship with all occasions. I remind you all once again that my country is a true friend of Kuwait. Long live Turkey, Long Live Kuwait.