President Erdoğan at Anıtkabir
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan attended the ceremony, held at Anıtkabir (Atatürk’s Mausoleum) on the occasion of the 97th anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic.
Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey Mustafa Şentop, Vice President Fuat Oktay, members of the Presidential Cabinet, Chief of General Staff Gen. Yaşar Güler, force commanders, presidents of high courts, Chairman of the Republican People’s Party (CHP) Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, Chairman of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Devlet Bahçeli, Chairwoman of the Good (IYI) Party Meral Akşener, representatives of political parties, and other officials were also present at the ceremony.
After President Erdoğan laid a wreath at the mausoleum, the attendees observed a moment of silence and sang the Independence March.
Afterwards, President Erdoğan proceeded to the Misâk-ı Millî Tower where he wrote in the Book of Honor the following:
“August Atatürk, we stand once again in your presence on this special day during which we are having the joy of observing the 97th anniversary of our Republic. We remember with grace Your Excellency, all the heroes of our War of Independence and our august martyrs who died a martyr’s death for the independence and future of our nation without batting an eye, and extend our gratitude to our veterans.
We make every effort to move our Republic, entrusted to us by you, forward and to achieve its goals and dreams. Turkey, today, is achieving success in every field, from democracy, freedoms and defense to economy, healthcare and foreign policy. The internal and external attacks aimed at hindering us strengthen and increase our determination. Encouraged by our glorious past full of success, we continue to march in unity and solidarity towards our shared future. May you rest in peace.”
