BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 11. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has said that his government bears responsibility not only to Turkey’s 86 million citizens but also to future generations, stressing that its priority is to serve the country rather than focus on the opposition.
Speaking during a visit to Rize, Erdoğan said the government would continue working without pause to address the country’s needs and implement development projects across all 81 provinces.
He said 26 projects with a total value of approximately 10 billion Turkish liras would be officially inaugurated in Rize, while the foundations of three new investments would also be laid.
Erdoğan said the government had accelerated housing projects implemented through the Housing Development Administration of Türkiye following the February 6 earthquakes. According to him, 5,636 housing units have been completed so far, while construction of another 1,221 homes is continuing.
He said new housing projects were being opened in several districts of Rize, including 465 homes, four commercial units and a mosque in Yağlıtaş, as well as additional housing in Kendirli, Madenli and Çayeli.
The president also announced the opening of a total of 330,000 square metres of national gardens, including projects in İyidere and Çamlıhemşin, as well as 27 temporary workplaces in Güneysu.
Erdoğan said the newly completed Rize Culture Street would support local producers, expand exhibition areas and contribute to the city’s economy by supporting the production and sale of handmade products.
He also highlighted investments in education, saying that reinforcement work had been completed at 10 schools in Rize and that the 600-capacity Ahmet Tevfik İleri student dormitory would be put into service.
The president said Rize had gained significant momentum in sports and sports tourism, noting that the city was hosting more than 2,000 athletes from 60 countries for the Kaçkar Marathon.
Erdoğan also announced the launch of several infrastructure and urban development projects, including the Çiftekavak industrial site with 190 workplaces, a new bus terminal covering 12,500 square metres, and new housing and commercial units in Çamlıhemşin.
He said preparations and project work had begun for an approximately 30-kilometre southern ring road and tunnel project, which he described as important for Rize and the wider Black Sea region.
