Phone call from Ekrem İmamoğlu to Murat Kurum

Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Murat Kurum visited the construction site of the "Izmit Bay East Basin Bottom Sludge Cleaning, Dewatering and Disposal Service Project" in Kocaeli.

Speaking to reporters, Murat Kurum stated that an area of 570 thousand square meters has been cleaned within the scope of the project.

Noting that 665 thousand cubic meters of bottom sludge have been removed to date and transported to the storage site after the drying process, Kurum stated that with the completion of the project, a total of 3.5 million cubic meters, or approximately 330 thousand truckloads of bottom sludge, will have been removed from Izmit Bay.

Expressing that the work continues within the scope of the Marmara Sea Protection Action Plan, Kurum said, "We are making a call from here once again. All our mayors with coastlines on the Marmara Sea should take on the tasks they need to perform and the responsibilities they need to assume within the framework of the Marmara Sea Action Plan as soon as possible. Rest assured; when we face another mucilage problem tomorrow, they will not be able to answer to this noble nation. Therefore, our call to them is to fulfill their duties as soon as possible."

"THE LAST PERSON TO ACCUSE US OF PARTISANSHIP IS İMAMOĞLU"

Upon a reporter's question, "Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu claimed that you did not sign some appointments and accused you of being 'partisan.' What would you like to say regarding Mr. İmamoğlu's statements?" Kurum replied, "The last person to accuse us of partisanship is Mr. İmamoğlu. Because from the moment he took office, he is a person who has shown all of Turkey how partisanship is done. They are the ones who promised not to fire anyone during the election campaigns, and then left tens of thousands of our brothers and sisters unemployed."

"Again, when you look at it today, all of Istanbul and all of Turkey know that they carry out the process of hiring workers with the reference of their alliances," said Kurum, adding, "Again, all of Turkey knows how he gave these tenders to his own alliance partners in the projects and investments made within the municipality. Therefore, they should look in the mirror. They will clearly see in the mirror how partisanship is actually done. Therefore, the last person to accuse us of partisanship is Mr. Ekrem İmamoğlu."

Stating that they spoke with Ekrem İmamoğlu on the phone today, Murat Kurum said the following:

"He called me today. He requested a meeting regarding what needs to be done for Istanbul. I expressed that I would gladly accommodate this. He acts as if he is not the same person who reaches out by phone today and conveys his issues and problems when he calls. First, you have to be sincere, you have to tell the truth to your nation, and then if there is a mistake or an error, you can express it. If you can reach someone when you call, if you can convey solutions to your problems, if you can discuss these solutions at a table, and if you can formalize them into a protocol, then there is no partisanship here.

However, if you are not sincere in the work you formalize into a protocol, if you do not fulfill your obligations, and on top of that, if you produce new ceremonies like 'non-groundbreaking' ceremonies, we will question your sincerity. Therefore, our advice to them is to focus on the work as soon as possible. Our nation expects work and investment from us. While Istanbul has an earthquake problem, while Istanbul has environmental problems, and while there are things they need to do regarding mucilage, those who know how to show off in Paris and Rome should sit at the head of their jobs and show the necessary will to solve our nation's work and problems."

"EARTHQUAKE IS ALSO A NATIONAL SECURITY ISSUE"

Reminding of the August 17, 1999 Marmara Earthquake and the February 6, 2023 earthquakes centered in Maraş, Minister Murat Kurum said, "We are expecting a possible earthquake in Istanbul. We always say, we are sitting on a ticking time bomb, and the earthquake agenda is the only and most important agenda of our country. Just as climate change is a national security issue, an earthquake is also a national security issue. In this context, we will continue to increase our determination. Within the scope of the mobilization we started in 2012, we have completed the transformation of over 800 thousand residences to date. Together with 1 million 250 thousand social housing units, we have supported earthquake transformation through our TOKİ Presidency."

"WE EXPECT THE SAME RESPONSIBILITY FROM MUNICIPALITIES"

Expressing that they will continue the transformation regarding the earthquake, Kurum said, "We expect the same responsibility from the municipalities. This is a struggle that must be carried out collectively. It is not a project to be done with the mentality of 'how can we not pay this debt' by making excuses when asked to 'pay your SSI debts.' We will work with all our might here. We will allocate a budget for the earthquake, not for advertising. Together, we will manage the truth, not the perception. We will realize together what our nation expects from us. You will see us every month at groundbreaking ceremonies, you will see us in earthquake transformation, you will see us while doing environmental cleaning, and you will see us while rebuilding the earthquake zone."

News Source: AA