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In photos: Erdoğan gives journalists tour of 1,150-room presidential palace
In photos: Erdoğan gives journalists tour of 1,150-room presidential palace
In photos: Erdoğan gives journalists tour of 1,150-room presidential palace
Erdoğan welcomed journalists in his office, whose ceiling is eight meters high.
In photos: Erdoğan gives journalists tour of 1,150-room presidential palace
A small machine, seen in the bottom right in this picture, gives off the odor of a traditional incense called “Buhur,” which was once used in Ottoman palaces. “It regulates the air,” Erdoğan told journalists.
In photos: Erdoğan gives journalists tour of 1,150-room presidential palace
“My favorite place in this complex is my library,” Erdoğan said, guiding journalists to another room.
In photos: Erdoğan gives journalists tour of 1,150-room presidential palace
Erdoğan stressed that ancient manuscripts were brought here from Ankara’s renowned Ethnography Museum.
In photos: Erdoğan gives journalists tour of 1,150-room presidential palace
“This is the place in which I find the greatest peace here. You are seeing it for the first time,” he said.
In photos: Erdoğan gives journalists tour of 1,150-room presidential palace
Several paintings were previously displayed at Dolmabahçe Palace in Istanbul and the old presidential mansion in Çankaya, Ankara.
In photos: Erdoğan gives journalists tour of 1,150-room presidential palace
Then the group walked through a corridor, which is decorated with Ottoman calligraphy art. Erdoğan said the collection was started by the wife of predecessor Abdullah Gül, Hayrünnisa Gül. “We continued it,” he added.
In photos: Erdoğan gives journalists tour of 1,150-room presidential palace
Erdoğan also revealed to journalists that an opera stage with a 2,300-seat capacity would soon be built in the congress center inside the gargantuan presidential center.
In photos: Erdoğan gives journalists tour of 1,150-room presidential palace
In photos: Erdoğan gives journalists tour of 1,150-room presidential palace
In photos: Erdoğan gives journalists tour of 1,150-room presidential palace
The 1,150-room palace, which cost at least 1.37 billion Turkish Liras, was built inside the iconic forest area organized by Turkey’s founder Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, whose portrait adorns Erdoğan’s office, too.
In photos: Erdoğan gives journalists tour of 1,150-room presidential palace
Referring to the Council of State’s recent ruling that declared the construction of the palace “unlawful” and affirmed the “special status” of Atatürk Forest Farm grounds, Erdoğan said “there is no legal problem.” Slamming his critics, he described the claims as “very ugly.”
In photos: Erdoğan gives journalists tour of 1,150-room presidential palace
Journalists were then guided by a presidential aide into other rooms of the palace, although the most speculated ones, such as the vault room, secret passageways, the 153-square-meter kitchen, swimming pool, sauna and massage room remained off limits.
In photos: Erdoğan gives journalists tour of 1,150-room presidential palace
On the other hand, journalists were allowed into the soundproof room of the National Security Council, which is also specially protected against wiretapping. Presidential aides said the palace may be damaged in the deadliest earthquakes, but that the special room never would be.
In photos: Erdoğan gives journalists tour of 1,150-room presidential palace
The tour then continued in other locations in the complex.
In photos: Erdoğan gives journalists tour of 1,150-room presidential palace
In photos: Erdoğan gives journalists tour of 1,150-room presidential palace
In photos: Erdoğan gives journalists tour of 1,150-room presidential palace
In photos: Erdoğan gives journalists tour of 1,150-room presidential palace
In photos: Erdoğan gives journalists tour of 1,150-room presidential palace
In photos: Erdoğan gives journalists tour of 1,150-room presidential palace
In photos: Erdoğan gives journalists tour of 1,150-room presidential palace
In photos: Erdoğan gives journalists tour of 1,150-room presidential palace
In photos: Erdoğan gives journalists tour of 1,150-room presidential palace
In photos: Erdoğan gives journalists tour of 1,150-room presidential palace
In photos: Erdoğan gives journalists tour of 1,150-room presidential palace
In photos: Erdoğan gives journalists tour of 1,150-room presidential palace
In photos: Erdoğan gives journalists tour of 1,150-room presidential palace
In photos: Erdoğan gives journalists tour of 1,150-room presidential palace
In photos: Erdoğan gives journalists tour of 1,150-room presidential palace
In photos: Erdoğan gives journalists tour of 1,150-room presidential palace
In photos: Erdoğan gives journalists tour of 1,150-room presidential palace
In photos: Erdoğan gives journalists tour of 1,150-room presidential palace
“Wouldn’t it be more appropriate if you organized this tour to prevent speculation?” a journalist asked, referring to the controversy about the location, the size and the cost of the palace. “[Waiting until today] proved a better choice to see how to approach to the problem,” he answered.
In photos: Erdoğan gives journalists tour of 1,150-room presidential palace
In photos: Erdoğan gives journalists tour of 1,150-room presidential palace
In photos: Erdoğan gives journalists tour of 1,150-room presidential palace
In photos: Erdoğan gives journalists tour of 1,150-room presidential palace
In photos: Erdoğan gives journalists tour of 1,150-room presidential palace
In photos: Erdoğan gives journalists tour of 1,150-room presidential palace
In photos: Erdoğan gives journalists tour of 1,150-room presidential palace
In photos: Erdoğan gives journalists tour of 1,150-room presidential palace
In photos: Erdoğan gives journalists tour of 1,150-room presidential palace
A separate residential building for himself is also under construction inside the complex. “There is still some work to do there. It’s a place that can be used both as a residence and an office. I may move in there,” he said.
In photos: Erdoğan gives journalists tour of 1,150-room presidential palace
Amid exotic smells of Ottoman incense and Turkish controversies, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan gave journalists a tour of the controversial presidential palace on July 15. Click through for the photo story. Ümit Çetin-ANKARA/Hürriyet photos
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