Eastern Mediterranean University Atatürk Research and Application Center (EMU-ATAUM) Chair Assist. Prof. Dr. Turgay Bülent Göktürk released a statement on the occasion of the 97th Anniversary of 29 October, Republic Day. Asst. Prof. Dr. Turgay Bülent Göktürk’s statement reads as follows:
We are living the pride and excitement of celebrating the 97th anniversary of the Republic of Turkey, founded by our supreme nation united as one heart against its enemies who threatened its independence and emerged victorious from the struggle for independence under the leadership of Eternal Commander-in-Chief Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.
Ataturk, together with his nation, succeeded the National Liberation Struggle, which he started with the motto "Either independence or death ..." despite all the difficulties and after liberating the country from the imperialist occupation forces, he realized the revolutions to bring the Turkish nation to the level of contemporary civilization and established the Republic of Turkey, which he described as “His Biggest Accomplishment”.
The Great Leader believed that the Republic, a state form based on popular sovereignty, was the most appropriate form of government for the character of the Turkish nation. The Republic he founded with this belief has reached today on the foundations of secular, democratic, social state and rule of law. Combining all the elements that make up the nation in an extremely contemporary and advanced line, Atatürk ensured the most harmonious and efficient integration of efforts towards the realization of national goals.
The Great Leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, at the end of his great work “The Great Speech”, describes this process: “I tried to explain how a modern state based on the latest principles of science and technique can be established and emphasized that the result achieved today is the work of consciousness created by destructions for centuries and the price of the blood that has watered every corner of this beloved homeland.” In his address to the youth, he explained how the Turkish Youth would protect this trust by saying “Turkish Youth! Your first duty is to protect and defend the Turkish independence and the Turkish Republic forever ... ”
Ataturk emphasised the importance he attached to the Republic with his famous statement “My humble body will surely be earth one day. But the Republic of Turkey will live forever ". On this meaningful day, we commemorate with respect and gratitude Gazi Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, his comrades in arms, all the martyrs have fallen to the ground for the sake of making the homeland independent and wish you all a happy 29 October Republic Day."
