President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan delivered a speech at a ceremony marking the re-opening of the historic Selimiye Mosque for worship following extensive restoration works, as well as the inauguration of several newly completed projects and facilities in the city.

In his address, President Erdoğan highlighted ambitious plans to restore Edirne’s Ottoman-era glory. He announced that Turkey’s “greatest revival project in Europe” will see the historic Edirne Palace reopened to the public by the end of 2027.

“Through the greatest revival project in Europe, we will inshallah re-open Edirne Palace by the end of 2027,” Erdoğan stated. “With the revival of the Palace, I believe Edirne will take on a new look and re-gain its splendor of 150 years ago.”

The President praised the strong public support for these heritage initiatives, saying the love and enthusiasm of the people is unmatched. He also reaffirmed his government’s commitment to preserving Turkey’s historical and architectural treasures.

“My brothers and my sisters, your love and your enthusiasm are like nothing else. Despite the mindless who are disturbed by our Mehter March and ignorant of our history and our ancestry, we will continue to protect our historical and architectural heritage,” President Erdoğan said.

The Selimiye Mosque, a UNESCO World Heritage Site designed by the renowned Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan, is one of Edirne’s most iconic landmarks. Its restoration is part of a broader effort to maintain and revive significant cultural sites across Turkey.

The ceremony combined the mosque’s re-opening with the delivery of keys for additional completed infrastructure and facility projects, underscoring the government’s focus on both cultural preservation and urban development in the border city of Edirne. (ILKHA)