Transcript: Mayor Eric Adams Delivers Remarks at Kazakh Flag Raising Ceremony

October 25, 2022

Ibrahim Kurtulus, Vice Chairman of Bowling Green Association: Thank you so much, commissioner. But what makes it a great joyful event for any country is that His Excellency, the highest-ranking official of our great City of New York, the mayor of New York City joining an event. Joining a flag raising. And really adding great joy to the communities, these immigrant communities, that make up the city, of our great City of New York.

So I’m trying to stretch my speech a little bit too if you recognize that. (Laughter.) So I know he’s taking care of business on the phone probably. But consul generals of the countries (...) Many communities here, but what makes it very joyful, as I said before, is the highest executive of our great city joining and making it even more of a joyful time for our immigrant communities and raising their flag. Please help me welcome his Excellency, the Honorable mayor of New York City, his Excellency Eric Adams.

Mayor Eric Adams: Good to see. Thank you. Thank you. What's beautiful about this country, even with all of your applause, we allow one person to boo me. That's what's great here. In this country, you have the right to disagree. You have the right to voice your opinion. You have the right to say what you like and what you dislike. One thing we know for sure is that the overwhelming number of New Yorkers love every day of being in New York. And nothing personifies that more than the Kazakhstan community. Your consul general and I have been friends for so many years. This community is rich. You bring business. You bring cooperation. You understand the power of education. You believe in public safety. Raising the flag here, as many flags that we've raised throughout my time in office, many of them have been raised for the first time.

It shows the beauty of the diversity of this amazing city. This is America's city. New York is the key to the prosperity of this entire country. And so today, as we raise your flag, we also want to raise the energy and spirit of New Yorkers. New York is great, America is great, and we will always lift up all the things that's great about this country. And I thank you for your contribution to this amazing experiment of celebrating diversity we see in New York City every day. Let's raise the flag. Let's raise our spirits. Let's raise our energy of a great city and a great country. And welcome to this great flag raising. Thank you very much.

Kurtulus: Mayor, thank you so much. And you're right, this is the greatest country in the world. As an immigrant myself, my family came here in the later Johnson administration time and since this great nation has given my mom the opportunity to manage many of these skyscrapers, barely speaking English or writing English. It is a great country, mayor. It truly is, and I'm a testament to that. With that, we will raise the greatest country's flag in the world right here in historic Bowling Green. Mayor, you'll do the honor of raising the United States flag, and we'll do the United States national anthem. One second, sir, as we get ready for the flag.

(Flags of the United States of America and Kazakhstan are raised.)

Kurtulus: Congratulations to the Republic of Kazakhstan. Consul general, the Republic of Kazakhstan. We are very grateful to Eric Adams, our dear mayor, who works tirelessly for our great City of New York. And his staff, thank you very much Cesar, commissioner, and the gentleman over there at the sound system, thank you. And Rob, where are you, Rob? Thank you so much, Rob.

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