The Presidency's Director of Communications Fahrettin Altun addressed the participants of the "Panel on July 15: Türkiye's Victory of Democracy" organised by our Directorate in Stockholm, Sweden's capital, and Berlin, Germany's capital, as part of the July 15 Democracy and National Unity Day events via video message.
Director of Communications Altun highlighted that they are now in the seventh year since the treacherous coup attempt by a group of Fethullahist Terrorist Organisation (FETO) members, who infiltrated the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF), was foiled by the esteemed Turkish Nation.
Director of Communications Altun said that the Presidential Complex, which is the home of the nation, the Turkish Grand National Assembly, which represents the will of the nation, the Bosphorus bridges, and security and intelligence agencies were devastated with bullets and bombs from the nation's own arsenal on the night of July 15, 2016, exactly seven years ago, and continued:
"This nation began an unprecedented mobilisation in response to the betrayal it suffered on the night of July 15. People from all over the country flocked to the streets, avenues, and squares in response to the President's call, rendering their bodies as shields against this heinous raid. Our nation, led by our President, soundly defeated the July 15 tutelage supporters, coup plotters, and invaders."
Stating that on the night of the historical resistance, 252 martyrs marched to their deaths, defending their homeland from the traitors and members of the betrayal gang, Director of Communications Altun said, "We wish Allah's mercy on our martyrs, once again offer our condolences to their families, and express our gratitude to our veterans."
"Our state is still fighting against FETO with all of its might today"
Director of Communications Altun noted that they were unfortunately met with the silence and ambiguous statements of some focus groups as Türkiye resisted the coup attempt, uniting as a nation and state on the night of July 15, and added:
"The Turkish Nation faced a significant challenge that tested their lives, their country, and their independence, and while they passed this test with flying colours, many of the focus groups that claim to be Türkiye's friends and allies and who consider themselves the owners of such concepts as democracy, human rights, and freedoms unfortunately failed that test on that particular night. From those who remained silent until it was clear that the coup attempt would fail, to those who remained silent for days, to those who accepted the putschist terrorist organisation that massacred the people as an equal party and called for restraint, many focus groups failed to even condemn this treacherous attempt while our nation fought valiantly."
Director of Communications Altun emphasised that despite everything, the Turkish nation and state were able to thwart the coup attempt and fight hard to remove this treacherous group from all institutions and organisations, adding, "The bloodthirsty FETO has been cleansed from all institutions and organisations, particularly the Turkish Armed Forces and security forces. Our state is still fighting against FETO with all of its might today. The positive effects of the FETO cleansing process have emerged in every field, from law enforcement to intelligence, from bureaucracy to terrorism, as a state mechanism that strictly adheres to the directives of the political will, or the will of the nation, and achieves results."
"FETO is not only Türkiye's enemy but also the enemy of every state that allows it to flourish and of humanity as a whole"
Director of Communications Altun indicated that another critical issue in the fight against FETO is the immortalisation of the epic of July 15, noting:
"The story of each citizen who was martyred and became a veteran in the resistance of July 15, in which the Turkish nation defended its achievements at the cost of its life, contains important messages. Since July 15, 2016, the Presidency's Directorate of Communications has worked tirelessly to ensure that these stories are passed down from generation to generation and that our victory and the memories of our martyrs and veterans are preserved. While our state continues its determined fight against terrorism at home and abroad under the leadership of our President, we, as the Directorate of Communications, explain the epic of July 15 written by the Turkish nation, FETO, and its crimes at home and abroad."
Director of Communications Altun pointed out that FETO was not only Türkiye's enemy but also the enemy of every state that allows it to flourish and of humanity as a whole, and added:
"FETO is a global terrorist organisation, and a fight centred around international cooperation and solidarity must be waged against it, just as it must be waged against all other terrorist organisations. The Republic of Türkiye is stronger than ever in its fight, which continues with determination. Our nation, which reaffirmed its will for stability and the fight against terrorism on May 14 and 28, February 7, and between December 17 and 25, rejected and destroyed FETO's plans to complete what could not be done on July 15 by other means.
Our nation, which embraced our President's vision of the Century of Türkiye, conveyed a very clear message to the terrorist group's extensions by ensuring for the last time that the system discussions are baseless. We have not and will not yield to the terrorist organisation FETO, nor to those who walk the same path with the organisation, who resort to a variety of illegal and immoral means, including force of arms, and are eager to accomplish what they have been unable to accomplish through other means. In the Century of Türkiye, our country will build upon the achievements of the past two decades and continue to be the regional and global defender and protector of democracy and peace."