Turkish
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan officially inaugurated Istanbul International
Airport, in conjunction with the Turks revival of the 95th anniversary of founding
the Turkish republic on October 29.
The
ceremony was attended by prominent local political figures as well as leaders
from many countries around the world.
In
his speech at the opening ceremony, President Erdogan announced that the name
of the new airport is "Istanbul Airport".
According to Turkish presidential sources, the leaders included Albania's President Ilir Meta, Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, Kyrgyz President Sooronbay Jeenbekov, Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi, Turkish Cypriot President Mustafa Akıncı and Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov.
Among
the participants came the President of Moldova, Igor Doden, the President of
Pakistan Aref Alavi, the President of Serbia Alexander Vucic, the President of
Sudan Omar Al-Bashir, the Prime Minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina Denis
Zvizdić, and the Prime Minister of Bulgaria Boyko Borissov.
Deputy
Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure of Slovenia Alinka Pratusik,
Foreign Minister of Georgia David Zalkaliani, Foreign Minister of Iran Mohammad
Javad Zarif, Irina Falk, President of the Republic of Gagauzia Autonomous
Republic of Moldova, and British Minister of State for Europe And the United
States, Alan Duncan were present at the opening ceremonies as well.
Istanbul
is also hosting the ministers of transport of many countries, as well as the
foreign ministers accompanying the heads of state and government in the
inauguration of the new airport.
The
opening of the first phase of the airport coincides with the anniversary of the
founding of the Turkish Republic on October 29.
The
first phase of the airport is expected to provide services to nearly 90 million
passengers a year, with all four phases to be completed by 2028, Erdogan said.