Bilal Erdoğan visits Akkar’s Turkmen villages with Türkiye’s love

Bilal Erdoğan, chairman of the Board of Trustees of Türkiye’s İlim Yayma Vakfı, visited the Turkmen towns of Al-Kawashra and Aidamoun in northern Lebanon’s Akkar. Residents welcomed him with Turkish flags and flowers; he announced four aid trucks and spoke about Qleiat Airport and Turkish scholarships.

Necmettin Bilal Erdoğan, chairman of the Board of Trustees of Türkiye’s İlim Yayma Vakfı, concluded his tour of Lebanon on Saturday by visiting the Turkmen-majority towns of Al-Kawashra and Aidamoun in the Akkar governorate in the north of the country. He had begun the day by meeting Akkar Mufti Sheikh Zaid Mohammad Bakar Zakaria at the Dar al-Fatwa in the town of Halba, in the presence of several lawmakers and local figures.

In Al-Kawashra, hundreds of residents welcomed the Turkish delegation with Turkish flags and flowers, while fireworks were set off during a special reception ceremony. Erdoğan was accompanied on the tour by Türkiye’s ambassador to Lebanon, Murat Lutem; Yunus Emre Institute President Professor Selim Argun; a delegation from Türkiye’s Cooperation and Coordination Agency, TİKA; and Kemal Özdal, chairman of Türkiye’s Sadaqah Stone Association.

بلال أردوغان بين رجال دين خلال جولته في عكار شمالي لبنان

Lebanon’s Turkmen communities are spread across several areas, most notably Akkar governorate, where they are concentrated in the towns of Al-Kawashra, Aidamoun, Al-Dababia, Al-Doussa and Wadi al-Jamous, as well as in communities in the Bekaa, Beirut, Tripoli and Sidon.

“We love them as they love us”

After meeting Al-Kawashra Mayor Mohammad Abdullah, Erdoğan said: “We feel very close to the people here who love our country and our president. We want to return this affection, and we love them too.” He added: “We are here with love coming from Türkiye. This aid comes from Türkiye to our brothers and sisters in Al-Kawashra to provide them with some support in their daily lives,” expressing hope that conditions in Lebanon would improve under the new government.

Türkiye’s Sadaqah Stone Association delivered four trucks loaded with foodstuffs, cleaning supplies, clothing and heating necessities to Al-Kawashra municipality. Nemat Abbas, a town resident, told Anadolu Agency: “Lebanon is our blood, and Türkiye is our blood. We are very proud and happy about this visit.” Meanwhile, a girl named Lin welcomed the guest, saying: “Welcome to our village.”

Erdoğan spoke about education, noting that many students from the area apply to the Türkiye Scholarships program to study at Turkish universities. He said Türkiye helps children in the Turkmen towns continue learning Turkish and avoid forgetting their mother tongue. He added: “Perhaps the Maarif Foundation will come to Tripoli—who knows?”

بلال أردوغان مع تلاميذ يحملون الأعلام التركية واللبنانية خلال جولته في عكار

In Aidamoun, Qleiat Airport brings Türkiye closer

In Aidamoun, Erdoğan was welcomed with Turkish songs and hymns. At the municipality’s public hall, he met political, social and religious figures, including Muslim and Christian clerics. He conveyed President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s greetings and said developments in Syria offered hope for a prosperous and strong Syria, as well as for a brighter future for Lebanon, stressing that Türkiye stands with Lebanon and the Lebanese people.

He said the opening of René Moawad Airport in Qleiat, scheduled for late November of this year, would make travel to Türkiye easier. He expressed hope that it would be followed by road, rail and sea links. He also called on Turks to visit Lebanon’s Turkmen towns, saying: “I came and saw how beautiful this town is and how kind-hearted its people are. Come and see this beautiful land and these people.”

For his part, Aidamoun Mayor Kamal Maqsoud recalled President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s visit to the town 16 years ago, as well as the cultural, educational and social projects the area had seen since then. The two sides then exchanged commemorative gifts.

Erdoğan began his visit to Lebanon on Thursday. During the visit, he met President Joseph Aoun, Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri, Grand Mufti Sheikh Abd al-Latif Daryan and Beirut’s Greek Orthodox Metropolitan Archbishop Elias Audi. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam also received him in Beirut.

Main photo: An-Nahar. Photos: Anadolu Agency

Bilal Erdoğan visits Akkar’s Turkmen villages with Türkiye’s love