Following is the message President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan issued on 29 October Republic Day:
“My dear citizens,
Our treasured guests,
I wholeheartedly greet you with affection and respect.
I congratulate from the bottom of my heart our citizens living at home and abroad on 29 October Republic Day.
I, on behalf of my country and nation, thank all our friends and all our guests for sharing our joy of Republic Day with their participation.
Today, we are feeling the enthusiasm and pride of marking our Republic’s 100th anniversary.
On this milestone of our glorious history, I remember with grace all our heroes, the founder of our Republic, Ghazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk in particular, who spearheaded the foundation of our new state.
I wish Allah’s mercy upon our august martyrs and ghazis, who have for a thousand years watered our homeland with their blood.
I extend my gratitude to all who have for centuries served our homeland, nation and state with the belief of ‘eternal state’.
The Republic of Türkiye, whose 100th anniversary we are celebrating today with great enthusiasm, is our last state we have founded on these lands.
Our nation’s journey extending from the past to the future has come to these days by passing on from the Seljuks to the Ottomans and then to the Republic of Türkiye.
The Republic of Türkiye has all the experience of our 2,200-year-old statecraft, which finds its meaning in the 16 stars on the Presidential Seal.
Inspired by our deep-rooted history and ancient values, we are endeavoring to prepare our Republic for its new century by further strengthening it.
It is our most important duty to make our Republic, which, just like Ghazi Mustafa Kemal’s statement, emerged as ‘the protector of the unprotected’, live forever.
With this understanding, we have for 22 years carried our country from one success to another, from one victory to another.
By overcoming the century-old neglects and shortcomings, we have, through investments, taken the steps that will elevate our country above the level of contemporary civilization.
We have implemented historic reforms in every area, from democracy to economy, security to justice, education to healthcare, and agriculture to foreign policy.
With the Presidential System of Government, we, though after almost a century, realized Ghazi Mustafa Kemal’s ideal which he set forth by saying, ‘the aim and purpose of the national struggle is to ensure and preserve the complete independence and unconditional sovereignty of the nation.’
By removing the walls built between the nation and the state, we have united the people with the Republic.
With the fight we have waged and concluded with victory against the centers of tutelage, we have ensured that the Republic unites with democracy.
And now, we are working hard to render the second century of the Republic our nation’s century in the world with the goal of the ‘Century of Türkiye.’
With our growing economy, strengthening democracy, increasing reputation, widening area of influence and with our principled and visionary foreign policy, we continue to be the ‘protector of the unprotected’ in the world as well as in our country.
We are happy to see that Türkiye’s every success is followed with hope by all the oppressed in our region and the world.
We are determined to glorify the great and strong Türkiye ideal without paying heed to malevolent people at home and abroad.
Despite terrorist organizations that act as the hitmen of imperialists…
Invaders still pursuing the designs of a century ago…
Incompetent greedy people that are annoyed by our country’s successes…
In short despite the enemies of our nation and country, we, just like our other goals, will inshallah realize the Century of Türkiye as well.
May my Lord help and guide us!
With these feeling and thoughts, I wholeheartedly congratulate all our citizens, at home and abroad, on October 29 Republic Day.
May our martyrs rest in peace!
Happy 100th anniversary of the proclamation of our Republic!
Stay in good health!”