Erdoğan: The Republic is the Republic of both the Turk and the Kurd.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is speaking at his party's group meeting in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM). Erdoğan stated, "This Republic belongs to both the Turk and the Kurd. This Republic is the work of all of us." Emphasizing that they will continue to preserve and sustain the spirit of the Republic, Erdoğan said, "Today, our republic stands as one, whole, strong, and upright as the common home of 85 million citizens."

"THIS REPUBLIC IS NOT THE REPUBLIC OF A SPECIFIC INDIVIDUAL OR A SPECIFIC GROUP"

Erdoğan continued his statements on the subject with the following words: "This esteemed Assembly, under whose roof we are gathered, began its activities in Ankara on April 23, 1920, directed and managed our War of Independence, and declared our Republic on October 29, 1923, after the victory. The Republic was formed as a common decision of our nation with the approval of the representatives of our nation under the roof of the TBMM."

"THIS REPUBLIC BELONGS TO BOTH THE TURK AND THE KURD"

I want to emphasize this point; the Republic is not the republic of a specific individual, group, sect, or ethnic origin. This republic is as much the republic of the rich as it is of the poor. Just as it is the republic of the westerners and southerners, it is also the republic of the northerners and easterners. This republic, of course, belongs to both the Turk and the Kurd.

This republic is the republic of everyone living on the homeland. This republic is the work of all of us. It is the republic of all 85 million of us. I believe that no one living on this land has a problem or issue with the republic or the idea of the republic."