President Erdoğan marks centennial of Erzurum Congress

 

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan marks the anniversary of Erzurum Congress.

Turkey on Tuesday marked centennial anniversary of Erzurum Congress, the declaration of independence.

The congress which was held in eastern Erzurum on June 23, 1919, led by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, founder of the Republic of Turkey, aimed to reunite separate political parties and plan a national struggle during the War of Independence.

 “Consciousness, determination and consistency that emerged at the Erzurum Congress are the foundation of our unity and solidarity, symbol of our motherland and flag love, our greatest strength in our march to the future,” Erdogan said in a statement.

“Strictly rejecting the mandate and patronage, in line with the decisions based on the integrity of the motherland within the national borders, the foundations of our independent Republic were laid, a total struggle was initiated with the agreement of our entire nation and the War of Independence was crowned with a glorious victory,” he added.