In his message published on the occasion of the 106th anniversary of the March 18 Martyrs' Memorial Day and Çanakkale Victory, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said, "Çanakkale is a glorious epic written by our heroic ancestors against those who were enemies of the Turkish presence in Anatolia and our sacred values."
In his message published on the 106th anniversary of the Çanakkale Victory, President Erdoğan said, "We once again commemorate with mercy and honour all the heroes and sacred martyrs of the Çanakkale Victory, which we, as a nation, mark with great pride and enthusiasm on its 106th anniversary."
Stating that Çanakkale is a glorious epic written by our heroic ancestors against those who are enemies of the Turkish presence in Anatolia and our sacred values, President Erdoğan added:
"The spirit of Çanakkale is a sacred value that our nation will deliver in a stronger way to future generations, the ideal of independence inherited from its ancestors.
History is full of exemplary lessons on how those who tried to invade our territories failed.
Our beloved nation did not allow the invasion with the same struggle spirit once again on July 15, just as they did in Çanakkale and the War of Independence.
We are determined to uphold that great spirit in securing the glorious Çanakkale Victory and take our country beyond the level of contemporary civilisations.
Our greatest assurance is to see the Çanakkale spirit alive today as well.
We will never make any concessions on our independence our ancestors bequeathed to us, and together, with this spirit, we will walk towards the future.
The Turkish nation who has defeated their enemies in every struggle they have put up for all they deem sacred, even under the most challenging circumstances, is ready, if need be, to sacrifice their lives today, too, with the same spirit, in order to defend their unity and solidarity.
We, as the children striving to deserve the appreciation of our forefathers, who held this land on which they lived dearer than their lives, and defended it and made Anatolia a home for the Turkish nation, will upend any plot they try to design against our country and defend with an all-out struggle the future existence of our nation.
With these thoughts and feelings, I extend my congratulations for the anniversary of the Çanakkale Victory and commemorate on this March 18 Martyrs Day, with mercy and indebtedness, all our martyrs and all our heroes, Ghazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk on top of them, who had made these lands home for us. May their souls rest in peace in heaven."