As part of the "National Will and Democratic Resilience: The 10th Anniversary of 15 July" programme series organised by the Directorate of Communications to mark the 10th anniversary of 15 July Democracy and National Unity Day, a panel was held in Tirana, the capital of Albania.
The event, attended by numerous journalists, politicians, diplomats, and members of the local community, comprehensively addressed the threats posed by FETO to constitutional order and the historic resistance demonstrated by the Turkish nation on the tenth anniversary of the 15 July coup attempt.
The programme in Tirana opened with remarks by the Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to Tirana, Barış Ceyhun Erciyes, and featured the screening of the 15 July thematic video "Victory of Democracy". The panel was moderated by Meryem İlayda Atlas, Member of the Board of Directors of TRT, and featured Burhan Kayatürk, AK Party MP for Van; Mehdi Gurra, President of the ALSAR Foundation; Dr. Murat Yılmaz, Member of the Presidential Board for Social and Youth Policies; and Bujar M. Hoxha, Researcher and Analyst, as speakers.
The panellists began addressing the audience following a video message from Head of Communications Prof. Burhanettin Duran.
During his opening remarks, Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to Tirana Barış Ceyhun Erciyes stressed that 15 July was a treacherous terrorist attack targeting the national will and the democratic order. Erciyes emphasised the significance of collective memory, saying that the Turkish people's unwavering resistance prevented this threat and that the fight against FETO persisted without giving up.
The panel's moderator, Meryem İlayda Atlas, stated that 15 July revealed that popular resistance may thwart the idea that coups could overthrow democracies.
AK Party Van Deputy Burhan Kayatürk touched upon the historic resistance at the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye on the night of the coup attempt and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s leadership. According to Kayatürk, FETO poses a global security danger and has been officially classified as a terrorist organisation by many nations through Türkiye's diplomatic efforts.
In his address, ALSAR Foundation President Mehdi Gurra discussed FETO's disinformation activities in the Balkans and Albania, underscoring the importance of institutional cooperation and solidarity between the two countries in combating the organisation.
Member of the Presidential Board for Social and Youth Policies, Dr. Murat Yılmaz stated that 15 July represented a pivotal moment demonstrating the Turkish nation's resolve to uphold democracy and national will, noting that this experience enhanced Türkiye's democratic capability through reforms enacted within state institutions.
Researcher Bujar M. Hoxha stated that, in the aftermath of the 15 July resistance, a strong Türkiye has emerged as a central actor in global politics and within NATO and that, through its resilience in overcoming crises and its role as a mediator, it serves as the greatest guarantor of security for the Balkans and the Albanian people.
As part of the programme, a photo exhibition themed around 15 July was also opened to participants, while the film “15/07 Dawn” was screened at the conclusion of the event.
