Double message K. Bakoyannis from Istanbul – We fully support Ekrem Imamoglou – Democracy is not a la carte

Her absolute support to Ekrem Imamoglou, but also the firm adherence to the European values ​​of democracy and respect for the rule of law, expressed the mayor of Athens, Kostas Bakoyannis, speaking at an International Solidarity Meeting at the Istanbul City Hall.

The mayor of Athens reported that the Ekrem Imamoglou is “a mayor who worthily serves democracy in Turkey’s largest city, and in practice supports cooperation, peace and prosperity in the wider Balkan region”, adding emphatically that in order to ensure these values, democracy must prevail and the rule of law. As he noted, the democracy claimed by his counterpart in Istanbul “is not a luxury or an ahistorical “persistence” of some West. It is a necessity for development, a condition for a better life.”

Mr. Bakoyiannis highlighted its importance through his speech prevalence of democracy in the neighboring country. “Turkey is our neighbor and we want the good of our neighborhood. So the good of Turkey. You see, the symbols of states may be their flags, but the flags of cities are democracy and the rule of law. There are no dividing lines between municipal authorities, only common points: The values ​​of solidarity and freedom”, he emphasized.

Express her confidence his in the impartial judgment of the court during the appeal process, but also his faith in the political strength of Mr. Imamoglou, pointing out that justice will prevail and the rule of law will win this battle as well.

“The pretense political neutralization of Ekrem it does not work for the benefit of any resident of Istanbul. That’s why our stance is clear and our support firm. We are allies of judicial impartiality. We are defenders of free speech. We stand by Ekrem with the people of Istanbul for Democracy. On the right side of history”, concluded the mayor of Athens.

Mr. Bakoyiannis, after his speech, answering questions from journalists, referred to an earlier, similar support initiative with different “protagonists” and the aim of demonstrating that the power of the principles of democracy are independent of persons and roles.

“For Athens, democracy is not a flag of opportunity, nor are our values ​​a la carte. At the end of the 90s, one of my predecessors, quite rightly, visited the then mayor of Istanbul, who at that time had been unjustly imprisoned. So am I today I stand next to Ekrem with the hope that another mayor will not need to express his solidarity so practically in the future so that we can move forward for all that unites not only Greece and Turkey but also our own cities. […] Democracy is a value that transcends national borders, the boundaries of religions and cultures. She is much older than all of us”, underlined Mr. Bakoyannis.

For his part, the mayor of Istanbul, in his speech, noted that “cities and democracies have historically developed together. Therefore, anything that undermines trust between people threatens both cities and democracy. For example, the degeneration of justice with lies and the use of judges as a weapon against the opposition.” “A society that loses its sense of justice loses its chance to be civilized. The fact that Istanbul, which is fighting for justice, is exposed to a clear injustice that does not fit the conscience of the world, is actually proof that we are on the right path. The seemingly legal coup attempt against me, but in reality against the will of the citizens of Istanbul, united millions of people who have not lost their sense of justice in a very broad and powerful platform,” Mr. Imamoglou emphasized.

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