President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said, "We are committed to preserving Anatolia as a Turkish homeland forever, and we will continue to work tirelessly to ensure our people's prosperity and security."
President Erdoğan issued a message on the occasion of the "740th Commemoration of Söğüt Ertuğrul Gazi and the Yörük Festival".
Stating that he commemorated with mercy Ertuğrul Gazi, who laid the foundations of a world state that shapes history through his bravery and wisdom, in Söğüt, President Erdoğan said the following in his message:
"For generations, societies of various affiliations were fairly governed and lived in peace and security in the shadow of the great plane tree planted by Ertuğrul Gazi and his son Osman Bey, the remarkable people who guided the Turkish nation during its transition from a small beylik (principality) in Anatolia to a world state. We regard our forefathers’ state order, which set an example for the world throughout history, as well as our nation's unity and solidarity, as our most precious legacy, and we are firmly marching toward our future goals by safeguarding our deep-rooted civilisation and glorious history. We are committed to preserving Anatolia as a Turkish homeland forever, and we will continue to work tirelessly to ensure our people's prosperity and security."
Emphasising that the commemoration of Söğüt Ertuğrul Gazi and the Yörük Festival also played an important role in transferring a past tradition to the future and passing on values to younger generations, President Erdoğan said:
"With these thoughts, I remember with mercy and gratitude our great figures, who have left their mark on these lands, from Sultan Alp Arslan to Ertuğrul Gazi, from Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror to Ghazi Mustafa Kemal, as well as our heroes who have fought for our unity and solidarity, and I extend my heartfelt feelings to my august citizens."