10.11.2025 20:40
In his speech at the Commemoration Ceremony for Atatürk, President Erdoğan stated, "Just as we oppose those who wear the Atatürk mask in the media, social media, and politics, we are equally against insults directed at Atatürk. We cannot expect 86 million people to reach a consensus on every issue or to look at things from the same perspective. The most important matter is to express ideological differences with courtesy and to refrain from insults. There is no freedom of thought with a stick in hand."
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President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made striking evaluations at the commemoration ceremony held at the Atatürk Culture, Language and History High Institution.
Erdoğan stated, "Those who disregard our glorious history in the name of elevating our Republic and those who try to trivialize the 102-year experience of the Republic serve the same purpose." He added, "I say this especially for the following reason: Recently, we see that destructive, damaging, and divisive discussions regarding our national days are being brought to the agenda. Although those who disregard our glorious history in the name of elevating our Republic and those who try to trivialize the 102-year experience of the Republic appear to be in contradiction, they actually serve the same purpose. The biggest victim of this polarization, fed by the social tensions stirred up by the media, is none other than Gazi Mustafa Kemal; it is the memory and works of Atatürk."
Highlights from Erdoğan's statements;
"My dear nation, esteemed individuals of our Atatürk Culture, Language and History High Institution, respected guests, I greet you with my heartfelt feelings, respect, and love. I once again commemorate Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the symbol of our Republic, on the 87th anniversary of his passing. I express my gratitude to all members of our heroic assembly who led and managed the War of Independence, which is the honor badge of our nation, and established our new state.
At the very beginning of my speech, I would like to express my pleasure in stating one matter. I see that our Atatürk Culture, Language and History High Institution, which we moved to its new campus last year, continues its work successfully with its four rooted institutions. With its academic activities carried out both domestically and internationally, it is signing very valuable works in terms of both our culture and our language and history.
In a period where our language, history, and culture are facing serious challenges parallel to globalization, I personally find these efforts carried out on a wide scale very meaningful. It seems that we need to make more effort to produce equivalents for foreign words and concepts that have almost invaded our language.
I see great benefit in taking a more proactive agenda in the preservation and development of our language, Turkish, which is our voice. I congratulate each member of our Institution, represented by our President Prof. Dr. Derya Örs, for their services that carry the light filtered from our history to the present day, and I wish them success. We will continue to support them in their good works for our country and nation in the same way from now on.
The first President of our state, Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, laid the foundations of the new Turkey after fighting against difficulties and obstacles. Recently, we see that destructive, damaging, and divisive discussions regarding our national days are being brought to the agenda.
"WE WEAR THE ATATÜRK MASK..."
Those who disregard our glorious history in the name of elevating our Republic and those who try to trivialize the 102-year experience of the Republic serve the same purpose.
The biggest victim of the social tensions stirred up by social media is Atatürk, his memories, and his works. We are against those who wear the Atatürk mask in the media, social media, and politics while undermining the values of the nation. There is no freedom of thought with sticks and clubs. It is the cement that holds us together. We cannot tolerate the erosion of these.
Gazi Mustafa Kemal had set a barrier against the discussions that are being stirred up today. Atatürk declared his greatest and most lasting work, the Republic of Turkey, which is our common heritage, a century ago. It is necessary to protect, develop, and add new successes to his work.
Those who work, produce, and sweat for a fully independent Turkey can truly uphold his legacy.
We subjected the house where Gazi Mustafa Kemal was born in Thessaloniki to a meticulous restoration that lasted 11 months. We carried out comprehensive maintenance of this house in accordance with its original state. The historical house has returned to its original form. The Atatürk house has opened its doors to visitors.
"NOW WE ARE MAKING CANNONS, NOT SAFETY PINS"
If we have our UAVs and armed UAVs today, and if we are exporting our KAANs to different countries around the world, it indicates something. We have fired the competition shot to the world with our tanks and cannons. We are building the Turkey Century. In the last 23 years, we have made the biggest leaps in the history of the Republic. We have brought to life everything that was said to be impossible or that we could not do, one by one. We have changed the fate of our country in the field of defense industry. We have reduced our dependence on foreign countries to below 20%. We could not even produce a safety pin. Now we are making cannons, we are making tanks. Today, we are exporting over 7 billion dollars in defense. The whole world speaks highly of the successes of the Defense Industry. Once, we could not say which airport we would land at. Now we can say which airport we will land at.
We have raised millions of young people who are moral, hardworking, and self-confident, which is the guarantee of our bright future. We will work for Turkey for many more years. We will connect our country with its goals in every field. Our nation understands us very well. I believe that those who do not understand us will understand us better sooner or later. They will see more clearly where we have brought our country from and to. The next generations will carry Turkey to the peaks on this path we have opened."
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