President Erdoğan said, "We can only continue our country's struggle for development, growth, and empowerment by embracing May 19's spirit, essence, principles, ideals, and goals, despite all the pressures and provocations it has faced."
President Erdoğan released a message on May 19 Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day.
Stating that the building block of a robust Türkiye was laid on May 19, 1919, which began exactly 105 years ago in Samsun and crowned the National Struggle with victory, President Erdoğan said, "This date ignited the spirit of independence and future that spread throughout our entire country, as our nation rallied against the occupation of our land. Our nation embarked on a fierce battle for survival, bravely resisting captivity. This struggle for survival was encapsulated by the resounding cry of "either freedom or death". The torch of independence was lit in Samsun and spread to all of Anatolia, including Amasya, Erzurum, Sivas, and finally Ankara."
Underlining that the spirit of May 19 is the greatest asset and capital of this nation, President Erdoğan continued:
"This spirit embodies the essence of facing difficulties and persisting with unwavering resolve and belief. We can only continue our country's struggle for development, growth, and empowerment by embracing the spirit, essence, principles, ideals, and goals of May 19, despite all of the pressures and provocations it has faced. With a deep sense of awareness and self-confidence, you, the heroes of the new Century of Türkiye, should embrace your past and present, unite as one, and develop your fraternal bond with each other. I congratulate you, our youth, and our beloved nation on the May 19 Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth, and Sports Day and once again respectfully commemorate all the heroes of our War of Independence, particularly Ghazi Mustafa Kemal."