As part of the panel series organised by the Directorate of Communications to mark 15 July Democracy and National Unity Day, the “National Will and Democratic Resilience: The 10th Anniversary of 15 July” panel was held at the historic Vijećnica Library in Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Attended by officials from Bosnia and Herzegovina, representatives of Turkish institutions and organisations, and numerous guests, the event began with the opening of a photo exhibition portraying the events of the night of 15 July and the Turkish nation’s struggle for democracy.
Following a tour of the exhibition, participants watched the video entitled "Will of the Nation, Victory of Democracy,” produced by the Directorate. The video recounted the treacherous coup attempt of the Fetullah Gülen Terrorist Organisation (FETO) on the night of 15 July 2016 and the Turkish nation’s epic resistance to defend democracy.
In his opening remarks, Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to Sarajevo Emin Akseki said that the Turkish nation, under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, decisively thwarted the coup attempt and stressed that the fight against FETO in Bosnia and Herzegovina is being pursued with the same resolve.
Addressing the opening session, First Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives of Bosnia and Herzegovina Denis Zvizdić and Second Deputy Speaker of the House of Peoples of Bosnia and Herzegovina Kemal Ademović condemned the 15 July coup attempt and reiterated their opposition to any interference with the democratic will.
The Croat member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Željko Komšić, who addressed the audience afterwards, described 15 July as a historic victory for the Turkish people, the Turkish state, and Turkish democracy. Describing the Turkish nation’s resistance with bare hands against tanks and armed groups as one of the rarest examples in modern history, Komšić stated, “I commend the leadership of the Republic of Türkiye, especially President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, together with the entire administration and the Turkish people, for defending democracy in their country. You defended your country. You defended your right to determine your own future. For this is the only way to defend a state and its people."
Following the remarks, a special video message from the Presidency's Head of Communications Burhanettin Duran, prepared exclusively for the occasion, was screened for the participants.
Following the video message, the panel entitled “National Will and Democratic Resilience: The 10th Anniversary of 15 July” was moderated by Rector of Bursa Uludağ University and Chairman of the TRT Board of Directors Prof. Ferudun Yılmaz, and featured as speakers AK Party Deputy Chairman, Head of Cultural and Arts Policies and Hatay MP Hüseyin Yayman; Prof. Admir Mulaosmanović; Director of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora- Riyasat of Islamic Community in Bosnia & Herzegovina Ambassador Muhamed Jusić; and Dr Mustafa Krupalija.
Speaking first during the panel, Hüseyin Yayman conveyed the greetings of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to Bosnia and Herzegovina and stated that the 15 July coup attempt was intended to divide Türkiye, plunge the country into civil war, and leave it vulnerable to occupation. Yayman stated that President Erdoğan's leadership and the strong resolve demonstrated by the Turkish nation were decisive in the failure of the coup attempt.
Prof. Admir Mulaosmanović stated that one of the primary goals of the coup attempt was to seize control of Ankara and that Türkiye had succeeded in preserving its democratic identity and independent will. Noting that President Erdoğan's statement "The world is bigger than five" is not merely a political statement but represents a dignified and independent stance, Mulaosmanović also said that colonial powers perceive Türkiye's independence potential as a threat.
Ambassador Muhamed Jusić stated that 15 July was a significant threat to Türkiye's progress in the democratisation process, and that the coup plotters failed to achieve their objectives. Jusić underlined that the stability and national will shown that night laid the foundation for Türkiye's success in a variety of fields, from the economy to the defence sector.
The final speaker of the panel, Dr Mustafa Krupalija, highlighted the importance of the historical bond between the army and the people in Türkiye. Krupalija stated that FETO exploited society's spiritual values by portraying itself as a religious organisation, adding that the treacherous coup attempt targeted not only the constitutional order but also the long-standing bond between the Turkish nation and its army.
The programme ended with a screening of the documentary film "15/07 Break of Dawn" which depicts the Turkish nation's epic struggle against the treacherous coup attempt carried out by FETO members on 15 July 2016.
