Erdogan to announce ‘vision statement’ for presidency: Armenia’s acting patriarch invited to the event

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will announce his “vision statement” for the upcoming presidential elections with a ceremony in Istanbul today, with the participation of some nongovernmental organizations, academics, minority representatives and artists, the Hurriyet Daily News reports.

Erdogan, who is running for presidency against Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu and Selahattin Demirtas, will announce the statement that outlines his program and vision for leadership if he is to win the elections.

Preparing for the first-ever presidential elections that will be held by popular vote in the country, Erdogan is expected to outline his “2023 targets,” a date Erdogan refers to, coinciding with the 100th anniversary of the foundation of the Turkish Republic.

Erdogan has invited religious leaders, such as Chief Rabbi Ishak Haleva, acting head of the Armenian Patriarchate Aram Ateshyan, Greek Patriarch Bartholomew and Turkish Syriac Catholic Deputy Patriarch Chorepiscopus Yusuf Sag to the event.