Ahmet Aras, the Mayor of Bodrum met with valuable members of the press workers at a dinner on January the 10th, Working Journalists' Day.

Press workers attended the dinner organized by the ‘Bodrum Municipality - Directorate of Press, Publications & Public Relations’ at the Bodrium Hotel.

Having met with local and national press members working in Bodrum, Mr. Mayor Aras was accompanied by İlknur Ülküm Seferoğlu and Tayfun Yılmaz, the Deputy Mayors of Bodrum and Emre Köroğlu, the Member of Municipal Council.

“Unity, solidarity and peace shall last in Bodrum”

Stating that the press workers are very valuable and that he is happy to be with them, Mayor Aras said the following in his speech:

“We evaluate and share everything about Bodrum together. We are taking all the evaluations, criticisms, suggestions and recommendations of yours into consideration. I am happy to be with you. We respect your concerns about Bodrum, accept any criticism about the municipality and take it as a positive outlet. Since we are human beings, we make mistakes. In a prominent city like Bodrum, we have to provide services to the citizens in good faith without making mistakes. We are fighting for it and doing our very best. An atmosphere of unity, solidarity and peace shall be in Bodrum. We will work to protect it. Freedom and objectivity of the press… No pressure… We also know how wrong it is for them to be kept in prison just for their writings and ideas. My heart does not accept that journalists are in prison because of their idea or be under pressure. We shall work together with you to change these. Bright happy days are coming. I earnestly thank you for accepting out the invitation and taking out your precious time for this very meeting.” 

Having expressed in his speech that they have beein planning to meet with the valuable members of the press workers every fifteen days, Mr. Mayor Aras said that they were planning to meet press members and listen to their criticisms at face-to-face meetings.

Press members who have been working in Bodrum for years also took the floor and made speeches to mark the meaning and importance of the day.

The special night continued with the dinner, Mayor Aras and the teams of the ‘Directorate of Press, Publications & Public Relations’ made nice conversations with the press workers.