President Erdoğan: April 23 is the most important symbol of democracy and the nation’s sovereignty

 

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan delivered a speech marking the April 23rd National Sovereignty and Children’s Day and the centennial of the inauguration of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (GNAT).

Greeting all the children in Turkey and the world on April 23, when Turkey is proud of reaching the centennial of the foundation of its parliament, President Erdoğan said that he remembers Ghazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk -- the Commander-in-Chief of the Independence War, the first Speaker of the GNAT, and the founder of the Republic -- as well as all the martyrs and ghazis of Turkey with respect and gratitude. 

Underlining that the Grand National Assembly, which was inaugurated with prayers exactly a century ago in Ankara, acted as the headquarter of the fight our nation waged for independence at a time when our homeland was under occupation, President Erdoğan pointed out that the Republic of Turkey, the final representative of our sequence of states spanning thousands of years, was built upon a spirit of unity and solidarity.

Marking the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan, as well, President Erdoğan wished Ramadan Mubarak to the Islamic world. Following his speech, President Erdoğan sang the Independence March with children.