Esteemed Citizens, Dear Turkmen Brothers and Sisters,
Today, we commemorate with utmost pride the 98th anniversary of 30th of August Victory Day, which is one of the glorious moments in our history.
One of the decisive turning points in the Turkish National Independence War – which started on 19 May 1919 upon the arrival of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk in Samsun on the Black Sea coast of Anatolia – was the “Great Offensive” launched by the Turkish Armed Forces on 26 August 1922. This offensive, that began on the same date as the Victory of Manzikert (Malazgirt) achieved by great Turkish Emperor Sultan Alparslan on 26 August 1071, was crowned with a victory on 30 August 1922 at the “Battle of the Commander in Chief” led by the founder of the Republic of Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.
By this ultimate victory, the Turkish nation -whose ancestors from Central Asia had settled in Anatolia through a victory at the 1071 Battle of Manzikert (Malazgirt)- sealed Anatolia as Turkish nation’s eternal motherland.
In this regard, the 30th of August not only symbolizes the most glorious victory of the Turkish nation, but is also one of the most important milestones laying the foundation of the independent, sovereign, secular and democratic Republic of Turkey on 29 October 1923.
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the Commander-in-Chief of our War of Independence, described this important date as follows:
“The battle of the 30th of August constitutes an important milestone in our history. Our national history is full of important and bright victories. However, I do not recall any other field battle that ended with such a clear victory and which was so influential in giving a new direction to not only our own history but to the history of the world in general. There should be no doubt that the foundations of the young Turkish Republic and the new Turkish state were reinforced here. The Turkish blood shed in this very field and the spirits of the Turkish martyrs in the skies above are the eternal guardians of our State and of our Republic.”
Indeed, the Republic of Turkey is the achievement created by Turkish people’s unique struggle, proud stance, patriotism and the will of living independently under the leadership of Atatürk.
Established in unpromising conditions by a nation of 13 million, the Republic of Turkey has currently turned into an influential power in its region and beyond. Through its young and educated population reaching 81 million, competitive labor force, dynamic private sector and high-tech infrastructure, Turkey has successfully carried out big development initiatives, and has become one of the largest economies in the world.
The Republic of Turkey pursues an “Enterprising and Humanitarian” foreign policy approach to ensure security, stability and prosperity in its immediate neighbourhood and at a global scale.
In this regard, Turkey has repeatedly proven its determination to overcome challenges it faces in a volatile geography marked by conflicts, domestic turbulences, and new global threats including terrorism. Turkey, together with its allies and partners, continues to fight terrorism in its different forms and manifestations. Turkey resolutely stands against all such forces of evil, be it DEASH, PKK, PYD or FETÖ.
Moreover, in recent years, Turkish defense industry has achieved significant leaps. Dependence on foreign resources is decreased, the ratio of domestic production in defense industry jumped up to 70% owing to the rise in domestically developed, designed and produced military hardware. Turkey’s defense industry exports increased dramatically in recent years, reaching to over 3 billion USD in 2019. Turkey is determined to continue its policies to ensure that the Turkish defense industry operates fully independently.
On the 98th anniversary of 30th of August Victory Day, we remember with respect and profound gratitude our eternal guardians, all our heroes, our martyrs and the leader of our War of Independence and the founder of the Republic of Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and his comrades.
I would like to once again celebrate the 30th of August Victory Day, together with our heroic Turkish Armed Forces which serve with supreme sense of duty in the defense of our country in several regions from Iraq to Syria, and from Mediterrenean Sea to Libya, hence contributing to regional and global peace throughout the world in line with Atatürk’s guiding principal of “Peace at Home, Peace in the World”.
Taking this opportunity on this remarkable occasion, I would like to once again emphasize that the brotherly relations between the Turkish and Turkmen people -which have a thousand year long and deep-rooted history, and rely on “One Nation, Two States” principle- will continue to flourish on political, commercial, economic, educational, cultural, and social fields under the wise leadership of H.E. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and H.E. President Gurbangulu Berdimuhamedov.
Sincerely, Togan Oral, Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to Turkmenistan /// nCa, 31 August 2020 (in cooperation with embassy of Turkey, Ashgabat)