[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 59 (Tuesday, April 24, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E633]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 APRIL 23 INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN'S DAY

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                           HON. VIRGINIA FOXX

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 24, 2012

  Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, Turkish-Americans and Turkish people 
throughout the world are commemorating April 23 as National Sovereignty 
and Children's Day and I happily join them.
  On April 23, 1920, during the War of Independence, the Grand National 
Assembly met in Ankara to lay the foundation of a new, independent, and 
secular Republic, born from the ashes of the Ottoman Empire. President 
Mustafa Kemal Ataturk openly declared that it was absolutely necessary 
to form a government that would be the ``destiny of the country'' 
governed ``by the determination and will of the Turkish nation as 
expressed in the Grand National Assembly.''
  President Ataturk dedicated April 23 to the children of the country 
to emphasize that they are the future of the new nation.
  Following the victory over invading forces and the signing of the 
Treaty of Lausanne on July 24, 1923, Ataturk began to create the first 
predominantly Muslim secular, pluralistic, and westward-looking 
democracy. Over the next eight years, Ataturk embarked on ambitious and 
sweeping reforms in education, women's rights, and the judicial system. 
Today, Turkey stands as a model for other countries looking to shed 
their past and join the international community of democratic 
countries.
  Every year, the children in Turkey celebrate this National 
Sovereignty and Children's Day as a national holiday. Schools 
participate in week-long ceremonies marked by performances in all 
fields in large stadiums watched by the entire nation. Among the 
activities included on this day is one in which the children send their 
peer representatives to work with state officials and high ranking 
bureaucrats in their offices. The President, the Prime Minister, the 
Cabinet Ministers, and provincial governors all work with children in 
their offices. These children, in turn, sign executive orders relating 
to educational and environmental policies. On this day, the children 
also replace the parliamentarians in the Grand National Assembly and 
hold a special session to discuss matters concerning children's issues.
  The importance of April 23 as a special day for children has spread 
to the international community. The United Nations Children's Fund 
(UNICEF) decided to recognize this important day as International 
Children's Day.
  Congratulations to the country of Turkey on the occasion of National 
Sovereignty and Children's Day.

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