Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan participated on Wednesday in the ceremonies commemorating the 102nd anniversary of the founding of the Republic.
The ceremonies began with an official delegation, headed by President Erdoğan, visiting the mausoleum of the Republic’s founder, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, in Ankara.
The delegation included Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş, Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz, Republican People’s Party (CHP) Chairman Özgür Özel, members of the government, heads of the highest judicial bodies, Chief of the General Staff Selçuk Bayraktar, military commanders, party representatives, and other officials.
President Erdoğan laid a wreath at the mausoleum, and after a minute of silence, the national anthem was played.
Erdoğan wrote the following in the mausoleum’s guestbook: “Dear Atatürk, on this momentous day, as we proudly celebrate the 102nd anniversary of the founding of our Republic, I remember you, your comrades-in-arms, and our dear martyrs with deepest gratitude.” He said: “I wholeheartedly congratulate all our citizens, friends, and brothers residing both within and outside our borders on the occasion of Republic Day.”
He added: “We are working with unwavering determination to elevate the Republic of Turkey, which we founded 102 years ago through the sacrifice of many of our nation’s sons, to the level of contemporary civilizations, as you have mentioned.”
The Turkish President emphasized that the government is continuing its investment and development campaigns within the country without interruption, while simultaneously enhancing the country’s global reputation.
He continued: “Despite the widening front of attacks against us and our government as we approach our goals, we will not deviate from our path. With God’s permission and the support of our dear people, we will hand down a great and strong Turkey to our children as our greatest achievement.”
Turkey celebrates Republic Day on October 29th of each year, commemorating the proclamation of its founding by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk in 1923.
