National Anthem Reading Contest was held in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, on the occasion of March 12, the Adoption of the National Anthem and the Memorial Day of Mehmet Akif Ersoy.

Türkiye's Embassy in Kabul Charge d'Affaires and Head of Mission Cenk Ünal, Azerbaijan's Ambassador in Kabul İlham Muhammedov, Turkish companies in Afghanistan, Kabul University Rector Osama Aziz and Yunus Emre Institute’s (YEI) many guests. There were many people who came and attended attended the program held at Kabul YEI.

10 people selected from 96 high school students who applied throughout Afghanistan recited the first 4 verses of the National Anthem in the program.

After the jury announced the results of the competition, the first place winner was given a tablet, the second place winner was given a smart watch, the third place winner was given a wristwatch, and all competitors were given a certificate of participation.

In his speech here, Yunus Emre Turkish Cultural Center Coordinator Hüseyin Güngör talked about the life of Mehmet Akif Ersoy and the process of writing the National Anthem.

“Turkish-Afghan brotherhood has no limits”

Cenk Ünal, Chargé d'Affaires and Head of Mission of Türkiye's Embassy in Kabul, said that the National Anthem reflects the people's desire for Independence and the pain they suffered for this cause.

Ünal thanked YEI for the program in question and used the following expression: "The fact that our Afghan brothers will sing the National Anthem in this competition today shows that there is no limit to the Turkish-Afghan brotherhood. It also makes us proud that our brothers from very different regions of Afghanistan will sing the National Anthem."

On the other hand, Ünal also noted the following expressions about the Azerbaijani Embassy that was recently opened in Afghanistan:

"We are two ambassadors of one nation. We are two different states, but we are two different nations. Our missions were seen everywhere as representatives of Azerbaijan, and I always saw the representatives of Azerbaijan as representatives of Türkiye."

Azerbaijan's Ambassador to Kabul, Ilham Muhammedov, stated that the Afghan administration was on the side of Azerbaijan in the Karabakh wars, and that the country did not want to leave its relationship with Afghanistan.