Thursday, 29 October 2009
Turkey is celebrating the 86th anniversary of the Republic. Ceremonies take place across the country, in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and foreign representations.
The first ceremony within the scope of ceremonies to mark Republic Day took place in Mustafa Kemal Ataturk's Mausoleum (Anitkabir).
Turkish President Abdullah Gul laid a wreath on the Mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the Modern Turkish Republic and kept minute of silence.
President Gul wrote on Anitkabir's special notebook. He said, "we are proud to celebrate 86th anniversary of the Turkish Republic. The Republic announced to the whole world that our nation will not make concession from its independence and freedom. It has also become the indication of our determination to get our rightful place in the contemporary world."
Parliament Speaker Mehmet Ali Sahin, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Constitutional Court Chairman Hasim Kilic, Chief of General Staff Gen. Ilker Basbug, Republican People's Party (CHP) Chairman Deniz Baykal, Chairman of Supreme Court of Appeals Hasan Gerceker, President of Council of State Mustafa Birden, members of Council of Ministers, Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Chairman Devlet Bahceli, force commanders, parliamentarians, Ankara Governor Kemal Onal, Democratic Society Party (DTP) MP from Mus Sirri Sakik, representatives from some political parties and military officials attended the ceremony in Anitkabir.
On October 29, 1923, the Turkish constitution was amended and Turkey became a republic. Republic Day is celebrated throughout Turkey every year.
Also On October 29, 1923, the Turkish Grand National Assembly officially made the declaration of Republic and unanimously voted Mustafa Kemal as its first President. As President, Mustafa Kemal quickly began to make sweeping political, economic, and social reforms. Dedicated to his duty, he kept in close contact with local authorities and received respected foreign officials.
