US Secretary Of State Celebrates 98Th Anniversary Of Turkish Republic

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken congratulated Turkey on the 98th anniversary of the declaration of the Turkish Republic.

"On behalf of the United States of America, I congratulate the people of Turkey as you celebrate the 98th anniversary of the founding of the Republic of Turkey," Blinken said in a statement Friday.

"Turkey is an important NATO Ally and partner of the United States," he said. "For decades, Turkey has stood together with the United States and the international community to confront global challenges."

"Our longstanding relationship is built upon strong commercial, diplomatic and security cooperation," Blinken noted. "The incredibly deep, people-to-people ties between Turkey and the United States have persisted for generations and are critical to the strength of our relationship."

"We send best wishes as you celebrate this special occasion and look forward to expanding our partnership in the years to come," he added.

On Oct. 29, 1923, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the Turkish Republic, officially declared the nation's name and proclaimed the country's status as a republic. Since then, Turkey has celebrated Republic Day every Oct. 29. -