10.11.2026 12:30
At the commemoration ceremony held at the Atatürk Supreme Council for Culture, Language and History, President Erdoğan said, "Atatürk lit the torch of independence. An epic without equal in the world was written," and used the following statements: "Those who exploited the Gazi's legacy looked down on this nation for decades. They opened a rift between the people and the republic; we ended the guardianship. We protected the achievements of the Republic."
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made important assessments at the commemorative ceremony held at the Atatürk Supreme Council for Culture, Language and History.
"The National Struggle period is one of the turning points in our history. Atatürk lit the torch of independence. An epic without equal in the world was written," Erdoğan said, adding: "Those who exploited the Gazi's legacy looked down on this nation for decades. They opened a rift between the people and the Republic; we ended tutelage. We protected the achievements of the Republic. Those who bent and distorted Atatürk's legacy did harm to the nation."
Highlights from Erdoğan's statements;
My precious nation, esteemed members of our Atatürk Supreme Council for Culture, Language and History, distinguished guests; I greet you with my most heartfelt feelings, respect, and affection. We commemorate with mercy our founder of the Republic, our first President Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, on the 88th anniversary of his passing to the eternal realm.
In this sacred homeland where a lion lies in every corner, I likewise commemorate with respect all the members of our Gazi Assembly of that period, who directed and managed the War of Independence and opened the path to the Republic.
The following verses by our national poet Namık Kemal are a concise expression of how, as a nation, we thirst for martyrdom when the matter is our independence and future:
'In our flag that appears are blood and sword,
No fear for life roams in our plains or mountains, In every corner a lion lies in our soil,
In battle, we attain all fulfillment through martyrdom.'
Yes, today I once again commemorate with mercy our martyrs who fell to the ground bravely, honorably, and heroically in all the battles we have fought for a thousand years. I say, may my Lord gladden the souls of all of them, make their places paradise, and, God willing, make us worthy of the martyrs. Last week we joyfully celebrated the 103rd anniversary of the founding of our Republic. We once again remembered how a nation whose last century passed with great suffering, destruction, and defeats rose again, how it was reborn from its ashes, and how it crowned this tremendous uprising with the Republic.
It is certain that protecting the Republic is possible by strengthening the institutions that constitute the memory of the nation, which is its essential and founding element. These institutions carry history to today and keep identity and culture alive within them. The Atatürk Supreme Council for Culture, Language and History is one of these institutions. With this in mind, we built this magnificent work, revived it, and brought it to today.
"ATATÜRK LIT THE TORCH OF INDEPENDENCE"
The National Struggle period is one of the turning points in our history. Atatürk lit the torch of independence.
I sincerely thank all members of the institution who devotedly represent our Turkish language, history, and civilization, and I wish them success in their work.
Atatürk lit the torch of independence. The road to salvation was opened with the spirit of independence that rejected captivity. The national will declared with a resounding voice in Amasya spread across Anatolia at the Erzurum and Sivas Congresses. An epic without equal in the world was written. After the National Struggle, which ended in victory, with the Republic founded on October 29, a new link was added to our chain of states, and sovereignty passed unconditionally and without restriction to the nation.
Those who exploited the Gazi's legacy looked down on this nation for decades. They opened a rift between the people and the Republic; we ended tutelage. We protected the achievements of the Republic. Those who bent and distorted Atatürk's legacy did harm to the nation.
"WE ARE FURTHER FORTIFYING OUR HOME FRONT WITH NEW STEPS"
We are in a great mobilization of breakthroughs in every field. We have covered important distance toward fully resolving the terrorism issue. Despite the belt of instability and conflict surrounding us, we are marching toward our common future in full solidarity with the state and the nation. We are further fortifying our home front with new moves. We want to render one of our greatest services to our country by, God willing, granting our nation the civilian constitution, which has become a means for Turkish democracy to prove its maturity. We are marching toward our common future in full solidarity with the state and the nation. We will not stop or pause until we make this country, which is the legacy of our martyrs and veterans to us, much stronger with new victories and new successes."