Sunday was a special day in the history of the Turkish Republic. The 100th anniversary of the republic was observed with celebrations across the country and in its diplomatic missions abroad.
Events were held with the participation of high-ranking officials in 81 provinces as the nation joined the celebrations with flags and posters of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder and first president of the century-old republic.
In the early hours of Sunday, a delegation of government officials and party leaders, generals, and top judges visited Anıtkabir, the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, on the occasion of Republic Day.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan led the delegation paying tributes to Atatürk and his circle of soldiers and state leaders who established the republic after a fierce War of Independence. The delegation laid a wreath at Atatürk’s mausoleum.
Erdoğan then hosted a reception of ambassadors and high-level officials on the occasion at the Presidential Complex and attended an oil painting exhibition on the centenary. Representatives of foreign missions, heads of public agencies, ministers and party leaders attended the reception, along with a group of youth, athletes, families of veterans and martyrs, and relatives of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.
Guests at the reception were presented with coins and stamps issued by the state to mark the centenary of the republic.
Guests also signed a painting containing the coats of arms of the Presidency and a logo of the 100th anniversary of the republic.
Visitors then toured the exhibition that included portraits of presidents of the republic, from Atatürk to Erdoğan, and paintings of “100 Works” accomplished by the centenary – from locally-made vehicle Togg to a drillship and products of the Turkish defence industry, which became self-reliant after decades of imports, from drones to warships.
Erdoğan wrote in the memorial book of the mausoleum during his visit as part of a state tradition and expressed Türkiye’s pride and joy to mark the 100th anniversary of the republic.
“In this turning point of our history, we once again remember your Excellency, your colleagues, revered martyrs who sacrificed their lives for independence, and veterans. During our 21 years in government spent serving the country, the nation, we tried to preserve what you entrusted to us. As an administration that made the biggest investments in the history of Türkiye, we are determined to crown the second century of the republic as the ‘Century of Türkiye’ along with our allies and nation,” he said, referring to his ambitious visionary document announced in 2022.
The century of Türkiye contains major action plans for coming years in all fields, from economy to human rights.
Elsewhere, lawmakers inaugurated events at the War of Independence Museum within the original building of the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) where the republic was declared to the nation 100 years ago in the capital Ankara.
Ankara also hosted a parade of military bands, including the Mehteran or Ottoman military band, the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) military band and the Azerbaijan military band which performed a Centenary Anthem and other anthems associated with the republic, in front of Parliament.
Dignitaries also attended a march between the former and current buildings of the Parliament.
Solotürk, an aerial stunt team of the Turkish Air Forces Command performed stunts over Anıtkabir for the occasion.
In Istanbul, a series of events, including exhibitions and screening of videos about the past and future of the republic on giant screens set up in major squares were held throughout the day.