'Ancestral soil' brought to Turkey from Greece

As part of the events for the May 19 Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day, and within the scope of an organization held by the Western Thrace Turks Solidarity Association and the İpsala District Governorship, soil taken from the garden of the house where Atatürk was born in Thessaloniki was brought to the İpsala Border Gate by car by the Consulate General in Komotini.

At the ceremony held at the border gate, the soil, wrapped in a Turkish flag, was handed over to the athletes of the Istanbul Masters Athletics Sports Club, who are participating in the Atatürk Commemoration and Peace Run.

İpsala District Governor Ömer Sevgili expressed his satisfaction in his speech at the ceremony that such an important event was being held in İpsala.

'MAY THEIR PATH BE CLEAR'

Stating that they would hand over the soil they received to the athletes to be taken to Ankara, Ömer Sevgili said, "Through our Consulates General, soil is taken from the house where Atatürk was born and brought here. The Consulate General delivers it to us. We deliver it to the athletes. The most important point here is that our youth and our athletes who feel young are delivering the soil to our Ata (Father). May their path be clear."

Consul General of Komotini Aykut Ünal stated that the actions taken by Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk throughout his life continue to shed light on them.