Honoring 102 Years of the Republic, Building Bridges of Friendship

This year, we proudly celebrate the 102nd anniversary of the Proclamation of the Republic of Türkiye, which is a defining moment in our nation’s history that laid the foundations of a modern, democratic and forward-looking state. On October 29, 1923, Turkish people, under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, embraced the Republic which guaranteed their right to shape their own destiny.

The proclamation of the Republic was the crowning achievement of the Turkish nation’s struggle for independence. Following years of sacrifice during the War of Independence, Turkish people secured not only their freedom but also the right to establish a state based on national sovereignty and independence. The Turkish nation has demonstrated to the world that it will never submit to oppression or captivity. This victory, achieved under the visionary leadership of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and exceptional determination of Turkish people, remains a timeless source of inspiration that guides us even today.

Since the establishment of the Turkish Republic, we have been always guided by the enduring objective to achieve “Peace at Home, Peace in the World”. Today, Türkiye stands out with its dynamic economy, its active global diplomacy, and its strong contributions to international peace. As we honor the legacy of the Turkish Republic, we also continue to pursue progress and prosperity with the vision of the “Century of Türkiye,” introduced under the wise leadership of H.E. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

When we look at how far our Republic has come, it is evident that even greater achievements lie ahead. Today, the national and indigenous defense capabilities that our nation have achieved are beyond comparison with the scarcity and hardship faced by the valiant generation that secured our independence. I am certain that our ancestors would have felt immense pride in witnessing our national capabilities today, producing %80 of our own defense industry products.

In the “Century of Türkiye”, Turkish national foreign policy aims to strengthen regional peace and security, expand the institutional basis of our foreign relations, promote economic development and prosperity in our region and influence the transformation of the global system.

As an example, from the very beginning, Türkiye has supported Syria’s pursuit of peace, recovery, and reconstruction. We have never left our Syrian brothers and sisters alone, and we never will. Likewise, from the day one of the genocide in Gaza, Türkiye has been standing with the people of Gaza, to provide humanitarian assistance, and support and lead every sincere initiative that upholds peace, justice and human dignity. Türkiye has provided 102 thousand tonnes of humanitarian aid to Gaza.

As our President H.E. Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated, Türkiye has actively sustained its diplomatic efforts through different channels to put an end to the suffering of innocent civilians, including women and children. In this regard, we welcome the establishment of a ceasefire in Gaza at the Sharm El Sheikh Summit, to which also H.E. President Erdogan participated, and expect the ceasefire agreement to be fully implemented. Lasting peace in the Middle East can only be achieved through a just resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian question. We hope that the momentum achieved in the ceasefire negotiations will also contribute to the realization of a two-state solution in the coming period. As it has always been the case, Türkiye will continue their tireless efforts towards this vision. On this occasion, we extend our deepest condolences to brotherly Palestinian people and Palestine for those who lost their lives and speedy recovery to all injured.

Türkiye will continue to work preventing conflicts by mediating disputes, in its region and beyond.

In line with our foreign policy objectives, the relations between Türkiye and Bahrain span more than five decades, encompassing cooperation in key areas such as politics, trade, health, education and culture. Guided by the visions of H.E. President Erdogan and H.M. King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, our partnership has grown stronger and more diverse with each passing year. We stand united with the brotherly Gulf countries in the face of the changing security architecture of our region and any other challenges that pose threat to the stability of our common geography.

On this occasion, I respectfully commemorate, with gratitude and mercy, the leader of our War of Independence and the founder of the Republic of Türkiye, Ghazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, and his comradesin-arms. I also honor all our martyrs and veterans, whether known or unknown, resting in every corner of our homeland, and every hero, in uniform or not, who has devoted their life in service to Turkish nation. With these feelings, I wholeheartedly congratulate the 102nd anniversary of the Proclamation of the Republic of Türkiye, our source of pride, resilience and inspiration.

(The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Daily Tribune)