13.08.2026 20:00
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivered important messages regarding the Terror-Free Türkiye process in his speech at the Gendarmerie and Coast Guard Academy Graduation Ceremony. Describing the bill accepted with 467 votes in the Turkish Grand National Assembly as a historic step, Erdogan thanked those who contributed, saying, 'In Türkiye, where the shadow of terrorism has receded, we will hopefully sing new songs of brotherhood in the century of peace.'
President Erdogan said at the Gendarmerie Graduation Ceremony, "We see the law proposal accepted with 467 votes in our veteran Parliament 3 days ago as a historic step taken on this path. I sincerely thank Mr. Devlet Bahceli, our partner in the People's Alliance, and our Speaker of Parliament Mr. Numan Kurtulmus, and everyone who contributed and supported. In Turkey, where the shadow of terrorism has been lifted, we will hopefully sing new songs of brotherhood in the century of peace."
Highlights from President Erdogan's statements:
I wish success from God to all our security units who carry out their duties with a high sense of awareness so that our flag flies proudly in our country and abroad. I commemorate our martyrs once again with mercy today. I extend my gratitude to our heroic veterans and wish each of them, along with their families, healthy, peaceful, and prosperous lives. Our Gendarmerie and Coast Guard Academy continues to raise children of the homeland filled with love for the state and nation. The officers and non-commissioned officers whose graduation joy we share today are the final links in this chain. I wholeheartedly congratulate you, our young brothers and sisters, who have completed the modern, quality, and demanding education process with success.
"THE PRESENCE OF OUR 504 FEMALE OFFICERS AND NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS IN THIS PROUD PICTURE IS MEANINGFUL"
May God be pleased with our parents who raised these young people, whose love for the homeland and nation, along with their courage and determination, is evident on their faces. Today, 5915 of our brothers and sisters, including 1142 officers and 4773 non-commissioned officers, are graduating from the academy. Our 10 brothers from Azerbaijan, and 6 from our brotherly and friendly Kazakhstan, are also experiencing the joy of graduation. I congratulate each of our officers and non-commissioned officers individually. I find it meaningful, valuable, and important that our 504 female officers and non-commissioned officers take part in this proud picture.
You are not only the children of your families but also of this nation. You will crown today's knowledge with tomorrow's victories. You will carry Turkey, which stands out as an island of peace, security, and stability in its region, to much better places. I wish you great success in the duties you will undertake across the four corners of our heavenly homeland. I wish success to our guest officers.
"WE ARE ADVANCING WITH FIRM STEPS TOWARDS OUR GOALS"
As Turkey, we are renewing our strength in a period when the international system is struggling with turmoil, and we are advancing with firm steps towards our goals. While some try to evaluate developments within the codes of 30 years ago, we are doing whatever is necessary to become one of the poles of the new system. We reinforce our military deterrence with multidimensional diplomatic moves and our strategic partners. We develop our defense industry, which the world admires, with our own engineers and human resources. We are reuniting Turkey, which has built high walls between itself and its past, with its history, culture, identity, and geography.
Turkey is currently one of the countries that puts its hand under the stone to resolve conflicts peacefully both in its region and in the world. Turkey is one of the countries on the right side of history. You will make this Turkey much stronger and more effective with the services you will render to our state and nation. You will adorn your strength with virtue and morality, and fulfill your duty with unwavering discipline. Throughout your professional careers, you will renew yourself, develop, and be prepared against changing threats. I believe in each of you, I trust you, and I have no doubt that you will perform your duty in the light of these principles.
We have lived on these lands with our heads held high for a thousand years. God willing, we will continue to live this way until the end of time. Every inch of this homeland has been watered with the blood of our martyrs and veterans. Protecting the trust of our martyrs and veterans, writing new epics, and carrying our country to more prosperous tomorrows is our primary priority. It is of vital importance to achieve our vision of a terrorism-free Turkey and a terrorism-free region. We will solve this issue, which has cost our country 40 years, permanently, God willing, by the state and nation working hand in hand.
"WE SEE THE LAW PROPOSAL ACCEPTED WITH 467 VOTES IN OUR PARLIAMENT AS A HISTORIC STEP TAKEN ON THIS PATH"
We see the law proposal accepted with 467 votes in our veteran Parliament 3 days ago as a historic step taken on this path. I sincerely thank Mr. Devlet Bahceli, our partner in the People's Alliance, and our Speaker of Parliament Mr. Numan Kurtulmus, and everyone who contributed and supported. In Turkey, where the shadow of terrorism has been lifted, we will hopefully sing new songs of brotherhood in the century of peace. You will also be one of the strongest guarantees of this climate on the ground. You will continue the fight against terrorism, organized crime syndicates, drug traffickers, human smugglers, and cyber threat networks within the law and without compromise. I once again congratulate our officers and non-commissioned officers who successfully graduated from our academy. I greet you all with love and affection, and I kiss each of your eyes one by one.