Turkey will not tolerate any attacks on its integrity, the country's president vowed on Wednesday, marking the 83rd anniversary of the passing of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey.
"We will never allow attacks on the integrity of our country, the survival of our state, the unity, peace, and age-old values of our noble nation," President Recep Tayyip Erdogan wrote in the memorial book of Anitkabir, Ataturk's mausoleum in the capital Ankara.
Paying his respects to the country's founder and leader of its independence movement, Erdogan said: "We continue to develop our republic, which you established and entrusted to us, and to make it the shining star of its region and the world, despite the hostiles involved in the aspirations of the invaders."
"With the historical successes we have achieved in every field, especially in education, health, security, and industry, we are moving towards our 2023 centennial goals with determination," he added.
Before leaving his written message, Erdogan placed a wreath on Ataturk's mausoleum and joined in a standing moment of silence before taking part in the National Anthem along with his accompanying delegation.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan, speaking at a commemoration event in the capital Ankara, paid tribute to Turkey's founding father and commented on the development stages the country has gone through since its foundation.
“Of course, it is important to commemorate Ataturk, but the main thing is to understand Ataturk by following the traces of his struggle and correctly identifying the reasons behind it,” he said.
“In The Great Speech (Nutuk), three goals to be achieved with the foundation of the republic were stated (by Ataturk). We will raise our country to the level of the most prosperous and civilized countries in the world. We will make our nation have the most extensive means and resources of welfare. We will raise our national culture above the level of contemporary civilization,” said Erdogan.
“This is the direction that Gazi (Veteran) pointed to our nation. Not words, action. It has never been forgotten that our new state, built on the basis of the superiority of the national will, is the continuation of our 2,000-year-old state line, despite all the quests and hardships we have been through. Our nation has shown to all friends and foes the fact that our Republic will live forever, by defending its state more strongly after each stumbling block,” he added.
Mustafa Kemal Ataturk actively fought and struggled wherever the nation's struggle for independence and future required, noted Erdogan, saying Ataturk also followed Europe and the world closely to be ahead of the developments.
“This vision of Gazi Mustafa Kemal is also the road map of today's Turkey. Turkey is in Syria today, Turkey is in Libya today, Turkey is in the Caucasus today, Turkey is still conducting pioneering diplomatic work in Europe and in the world. If there is anyone in this country who embraces the political, diplomatic, economic, and military legacy of Gazi that embraces our region and the world, it is us,” he said.
“I commemorate with gratitude our heroes who have made all kinds of sacrifices, including giving their lives, to make this land on which we have lived for 1,000 years our homeland, and everyone who has served our country and nation. May God have mercy on all our martyrs and veterans, I wish health and well-being to our veterans who are still alive,” he added.
The ceremony continued with a concert in the memory of Ataturk and was attended by the government ministers, commanders-in-chief of the armed forces, and officials.
Vice President Fuat Oktay also posted a message of respect on Twitter, saying he commemorated Ataturk with "respect, gratitude, and mercy" on the 83rd anniversary of his passing.
As is customary, daily life stopped at 9.05 a.m. local time (0605GMT), sirens wailed to mark the exact moment of Ataturk's death at the age of 57, and millions of people across the country observed two minutes of silence.
The battle of Turkish independence started on May 15, 1919, when the first bullet against the occupying Greek forces was fired. Incredible achievements on the battlefield led to Turkish independence, and the Republic of Turkey was founded on Oct. 29, 1923.
Ataturk became the first president of the republic until Nov. 10, 1938, when he passed away in Istanbul at the age of 57 due to cirrhosis.
Another ceremony was held at Turkey's parliament in tribute to Ataturk.
Turkish people traditionally visit Ataturk's mausoleum every Nov. 10 to pay their respects.