Students march with Turkish flags during a Republic Day parade marking the 101st anniversary of the republic's foundation, in Istanbul, Turkey, October 29, 2024. REUTERS/Dilara Senkaya TPX IMAGES OF THE DAYSource: REUTERS
Turkey marked the 101st anniversary of the founding of its Republic with nationwide celebrations commemorating this historic milestone.
The events began with a ceremony in Ankara, where President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, alongside key government and military figures, paid tribute to the republic’s founder, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, at Anitkabir, his mausoleum.
In a speech to commemorate the anniversary, President Erdogan highlighted Turkey’s enduring legacy and future aspirations. “We are determined to make the independent, strong, dignified and prosperous Türkiye, which is the legacy of our states extending from the Seljuks to the Ottomans and finally to the Republic on the Anatolian lands, live forever,” he said. Erdogan also emphasised Turkey’s resilience and determination to “eliminate the scourge of terror.”
“We have few obstacles to overcome, few problems to resolve ahead of us to reach the bright futures that we call the ‘Century of Türkiye’,” he added.
Later in the day, President Erdogan spoke at the delivery ceremony of T625 Gökbey helicopters, where he highlighted the significant contributions of the nation’s defence industry to the Turkish economy. “We are by far the world’s largest manufacturer in the unmanned aerial vehicle market,” he stated.