“The Ceremony of November 10 Commemoration of Atatürk” was held by Atatürk Supreme Council for Culture, Language, and History
On the occasion of the 85th anniversary of the passing of the founder of our Republic, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, a Commemoration Ceremony was organized by the Atatürk Supreme Council for Culture, Language and History, with the participation of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, Ministers, and state officials at the Beştepe Nation’s Convention and Culture Center on November 10.
The ceremony began with a moment of silence and the singing of the National Anthem. The protocol speeches of the ceremony were delivered by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, and the President of the Atatürk Supreme Council, H.E. Prof. Dr. Derya Örs.
President Erdoğan greeted the attendees in his opening remarks and paid tribute to Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the Commander-in-Chief of the War of National Liberation and the founder of the Republic, on the 85th anniversary of his passing. Emphasizing that Türkiye is the final link in the chain of states spanning thousands of years in its region, Erdoğan stated, “The flag of independence, which was passed from the Seljuks to the Ottomans, has continued to wave with the Republic since 1923. On this occasion, I again express my gratitude to everyone who has made efforts to establish, develop, and grow our Republic. We continue the struggle to raise our Republic to the level of contemporary civilization, as per the will of Ghazi Mustafa Kemal, with the spirit of the National Struggle. Naming the new Century of our Republic as the ‘Century of Türkiye’ is based on this understanding.”
Stating that Türkiye continues its journey of democracy and development by overcoming the difficulties it faces, Erdoğan said: “We overcome many difficulties, from epidemics to earthquakes, from regional conflicts to global crises, by mobilizing all our attention, energy and means towards the construction of a great and strong Türkiye. Just as we have brought our Republic to the strongest level in its history politically, diplomatically, economically, and militarily, I hope we will see the rise of the Century of Türkiye together. We believe that this is how we can truly commemorate Atatürk on the anniversary of his death and protect his legacy. In this respect, we closely follow and support the work carried out by the Atatürk Supreme Council and its affiliated institutions”
Starting his speech by remembering Mustafa Kemal Atatürk with respect, mercy, and gratitude, Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy stated, “We believe that the most accurate way to commemorate Atatürk is to understand his goals in the best possible way. In this context, the most important goals shown by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk are to preserve our country’s independence and ensure that Türkiye reaches the level of contemporary civilizations as a prosperous country.”
Ersoy emphasized that with its glorious history, the Turkish nation has successfully maintained its independence even in the most challenging conditions, and keeping the spirit of independence alive is one of its primary duties. Pointing out the direct relationship between independence and reaching the goals of contemporary civilization, Ersoy stated, “As our President emphasized, Türkiye’s real power is not in its cannon, rifle, or bayonet. Türkiye’s real power lies in its people’s unity, togetherness, and brotherhood.”
Ersoy stated that they have promoted Türkiye in more than 200 countries, saying, “Our country, which has been making significant strides in every field for 100 years on the path to contemporary civilization, has now become one of the world’s most important brands, especially in the fields of culture, art, and tourism.”
Reminding of various restoration projects and cultural initiatives, such as the Atatürk Cultural Centre, the new building of the Presidential Symphony Orchestra, the restoration of the Rami Library, the Maiden’s Tower, the Atlas Cinema, Sumela Monastery and the restoration of structures abroad, Ersoy explained that they had ensured the return of historical artifacts that were taken abroad and displayed them in museums. He also mentioned the transformation of the Tekel factory into a center for the production of culture and art, as well as the construction of new cultural centers.
Ersoy expressed that with the increasing interest in Turkish culture, people around the world have started to learn Turkish. He stated, “We plan, work, and achieve for our country. We are 85 million strong, united, and determined. Our tomorrow will be much stronger than today. We believe that preserving the Republic and embracing Atatürk’s legacy requires hard work and production, and together, we are succeeding in this.”
The President of the Atatürk Supreme Council, H.E. Prof. Dr. Derya Örs, expressed great joy in hosting the state officials and guests at the program held in commemoration of the 85th anniversary of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the great statesman who has touched the hearts of Turkish Nation.
Örs paid tribute to Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, as well as the martyrs and heroic veterans who sacrificed their lives for the country from the War of National Liberation to the present, with feelings of mercy, gratitude, and reverence. He stated:
“Dear Mr. President,
These days, when we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the founding of our Republic with great enthusiasm, excitement, joy, and pride throughout our country, are truly the most exceptional days in Turkish history. Starting from the idea that “the administration most suitable for the character and customs of the Turkish nation is the Republic administration,” Atatürk, who declared the Republic, indicated with his words: “In recent years, our nation has clearly demonstrated how ignorant and far from research those who harbor negative opinions about itself are. Our nation will succeed in more easily demonstrating its qualities and competence to the civilized world under the new name of its government. The Republic of Türkiye will prove with its achievements that it is worthy of its position in the world, as indicated by the ‘Century of Türkiye ‘ declared by Your Honor.
As Atatürk, with great foresight, laid out and aimed for ideals to reach for a century, our state and nation, working with superhuman effort, will undoubtedly be at the forefront of the states and nations that will leave their mark on the 21st century.
Atatürk, defining the Republic as a virtuous regime, believed that reaching the level of contemporary civilizations requires the most advanced development and establishment of democracy, human rights, and universal legal values in one’s own country. The monumental successes our country has achieved today underscore the importance and guidance of reason, science, technology, and art, as emphasized by Atatürk at every opportunity. Once again, it highlights how accurate his foresight was.”
He continued his speech by saying,
“Dear President,
I am pleased to announce in your presence that the New Building Project for Atatürk Supreme Council, for which you gave instructions for construction in May 2014, will be completed and put into service in March 2024. The building, one of the largest and most magnificent buildings in our capital, Ankara, will bring together our affiliated institutions: the Turkish Historical Society, the Turkish Language Association, the Atatürk Culture Center, and the Atatürk Research Center. In cooperation with our universities, these institutions will continue to align with the ideals of the Century of Türkiye you have outlined, producing a significant portion of our country’s scientific knowledge.”
Expressing gratitude for the support given for the construction of the building needed by the Atatürk Supreme Council over the years, Örs extended his heartfelt thanks to the President and other esteemed officials and guests for their attendance at the November 10 Commemoration Ceremony.