Turkey commemorates 98th anniversary of Republic Day

Türkiye  |
Editor : Tolunay Yıldız

Celebrations begin Friday with state officials' visit to mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, founder of Republic of Turkey

Turkey commemorates 98th anniversary of Republic Day

Celebrations in Turkey marking the 98th anniversary of the founding of its republic started Friday with state officials' visit to Anitkabir, the mausoleum of the country's founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, in the capital Ankara.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who visited Anitkabir to mark the Republic Day, stressed determination to achieve the 2023 goals, when the republic is due to celebrate its centenary.

“As members of a heroic nation with a glorious past full of victories, we are determined to meet the republic with its 2023 goals,” Erdogan wrote in the Anitkabir memorial book.

The president also accepted greetings at the presidential complex.

The Republic Day is being celebrated across Turkey, its representations abroad, and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

The government ceremony in Ankara will be accompanied by various events including concerts, marches and fireworks across the country.

On Oct. 29, 1923, Ataturk officially declared the name of the nation and proclaimed the country's status as a republic.

A vote then took place in the Grand National Assembly, and Ataturk, a revolutionary statesman, was elected the first president of the Republic of Turkey by unanimous vote.

Since then, Turkey celebrates the Republic Day on Oct. 29 annually.

Also marking the Republic Day, Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay said on Friday that the nation protects its independence today as it did in the past, and the country walks resolutely on the road to a powerful Turkey.

Congratulatory messages from world

Foreign ministers, diplomats and international organizations congratulated Turkey on Republic Day.

The Foreign Ministry of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus marked the day on Twitter, sharing a photo.

Jeyhun Bayramov, Azerbaijani foreign minister, shared a post on Twitter to congratulate Turkey on the anniversary of the republic.

"We remember with deep respect all our martyrs who died in the struggle for independence," he wrote.

Also marking the day, Hungary's Ambassador to Turkey Viktor Matis wished, "May the Turkish-Hungarian friendship always last!"

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken congratulated Turkish people on the occasion.

Calling Turkey "an important NATO Ally and partner of the US," he stated that longstanding ties between the two countries is built upon strong cooperation in the fields of trade, diplomacy and security.

"We send best wishes as you celebrate this special occasion and look forward to expanding our partnership in the years to come," Blinken said in a written statement.

Marking the Republic Day on Twitter, the Spanish Embassy in Turkey said that the two countries continue working together to strengthen ties and improve the lives of citizens of Turkey and Spain.

Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics conveyed "congratulations to our Turkish allies and my good friend and colleague Mevlut Cavusoglu celebrating Republic Day," mentioning the Turkish foreign minister on Twitter.

"Today marks the 98th anniversary of the #RepublicDay of our strategic partner. I would like to extend my warmest congratulations and wholeheartedly wish success and prosperity to the friendly people of Turkey," Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani said on Twitter.

Norway's Ambassador to Turkey Erling Skjonsberg also took to Twitter to extend his congratulations.

Meanwhile, NATO said on Twitter, posting a photo of a Turkish soldier: "Retweet to join us in celebrating our Ally #Turkey on Republic Day."

WARNING: Comments that contain insults, swearing, offensive sentences or allusions, attacks on beliefs, are not written with spelling rules, do not use Turkish characters and are written in capital letters are not approved.