Togan Oral, Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to Turkmenistan
Today, on 29th of October, we celebrate the 97th anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic of Turkey.
Upon the proposal of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, a resolution regarding Constitutional amendment was unanimously adopted by the Turkish Grand National Assembly on 29 October 1923, followed by Atatürk’s election as Turkish Republic’s First President. Since then, the proclamation of the Republic has been a symbol of democracy, as phrased by Atatürk: “Sovereignty rests unconditionally with the nation.”
Founded under inconvenient conditions by a resolute nation of 13 million, Turkey has rapidly developed and has made significant leaps in the spheres of economy, culture, education, healthcare, and infrastructure.
Having a 2200-year old state tradition based on its Seljuq and Ottoman heritages, Turkey has become an influential power in its region and beyond. In line with the guiding principle of “Peace at Home, Peace at World” set by Atatürk, Turkey pursues an “Enterprising and Humanitarian” foreign policy approach to ensure security, stability and prosperity in its immediate neighborhood and at a global scale. In this regard, Turkey aims for and supports equitable, just, sustainable and permanent solutions to all global, regional and bilateral problems and conflicts.
Moreover, as the world’s 19th and the Europe’s 7th biggest economy, Turkish economy has grown by % 5.2 on average in the period between 2003 and 2019.
Considering the negative impacts of COVID-19 pandemic on global healthcare and economy, Turkey has successfully overcome the coronavirus pandemic through its economic initiative packages, experienced team of healthcare personnel and intensive care unit beds, the number of which is close to the total number of intensive care unit beds in whole Europe.
In this manner, Turkey gave a helping hand to around 140 countries and 7 international organizations that were in need of medical aid. Moreover, Turkey ensured safe return of nearly 100 thousand Turkish citizens and approximately 6.000 foreign citizens from all corners of the world to their homes. Turkey is now conducting Phase III works for vaccination against COVID-19 and supports the view that regardless of their countries of production, vaccines should be offered to the common benefit of humanity.
The brotherly relations between the Turkish and Turkmen people have a long and deep-rooted history, and rely on “one nation two states” principle. The Republic of Turkey has always experienced the pride and privilege of being the first country to recognize Turkmenistan after its independence and to open its Embassy in Ashgabat. Turkey has also been among the leading countries to support Turkmenistan’s status of permanent neutrality, and has sincerely supported the steps towards strengthening of Turkmenistan’s independence.
The relations between our two countries are based on mutual respect, cooperation and mutual interests. Turkey fully supports Turkmenistan’s economic and social development projects and its active neutrality policy. Turkey believes that these policies make a great contribution to the prosperity and development of the Turkmen people. Turkey and Turkmenistan display a model cooperation towards peace and stability in the world at the UN and other international organizations, especially with regard to the regional issues.
The relations between Turkey and Turkmenistan have continued to develop on political, commercial, economic, educational, cultural, social, and other areas since the early years of Turkmenistan’s independence. To this date, more than one hundred bilateral agreements, which constitute the legal basis of the intense cooperation in these areas, have been signed between our two countries.
The Turkish companies in Turkmenistan, along with their Turkmen brothers, keep contributing to the development efforts carried out under the wise leadership of His Excellency President Gurbangulu Berdimuhamedov.
In education sphere, the Turkish-Turkmen School, which has been conducting its activities thanks to the valuable support of Turkmenistan since 1992, consolidates the brotherhood of Turkmen and Turkish people, and ensures that the common values and traditions would be passed to the next generations.
Our close bilateral relations will offer new advances in the coming period. We believe that H.E President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s expected visit to Turkmenistan will present a fresh momentum for our bilateral relations.
We have several important meetings and events planned for the end of 2020 and the coming year. In this regard, we are preparing for the 6th Meeting of Turkey-Turkmenistan Intergovernmental Council on Economic Cooperation under the Chairmanship of H.E. Vice President Fuat Oktay and H.E. Çary Gılıçov, the Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan, 3rd Meeting of Turkish-Turkmen Intergovernmental Council on Education Cooperation under the Chairmanship of Education Ministers, Turkish-Turkmen Business Council Meeting, Exhibition of Turkish Exports and “2021 Turkish Culture Days”.
I would like to convey our gratitude to our Turkmen brothers and sisters sharing our joyful sentiments and once again wholeheartedly celebrate Turkish nation’s 29th of October Republic Day.
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. /// nCa, 29 October 2020 [in cooperation with embassy of Turkey in Turkmenistan]