Victory Day reflects Turkey's will, says Erdogan

By Cansu Dikme and Sibel Ugurlu

ANKARA

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan released a message on Tuesday to mark Victory Day, the 95th anniversary of a key Turkish defeat of Greek forces in the country’s War of Independence.

President Erdogan, describing the victory in 1922 as a “declaration of will for independent living,” said: “Turkey pursues the same determination to defeat any threats, attacks or attempts for sabotage against its economic and political independence as it did 95 years ago.”

Erdogan said the fight against terror groups, including the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), Daesh and the PKK/PYD, were “obvious” examples of Turkey’s determination.

In his message, Erdogan highlighted the will of Turkish nation which played a role in fighting at Gelibolu (Gallipoli), the Independence War and the night of July 15, 2016 saying: “Our nation has the power and capacity to overcome any difficulty, thanks to this will.”

Prime Minister Yildirim also released a message to mark Victory Day, reiterating how the Turkish nation’s struggle for independence ended in victory on Aug. 30, 1922.

Yildirim emphasized the strong bond between the nation and state, saying: “Power groups, trying to weaken the Turkish Republic with coup attempts and terrorism, will never achieve their goals and they will be completely defeated in the face of the nation-state interlocking.”

In a statement Chief of General Staff Hulusi Akar said Victory Day “will continue to be a source of inspiration and pride to the army which evolved out of our beloved [Turkish] people”.

Paying tribute to the Turkish Republic's founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk and his fellow soldiers as “the architects of this victory”, Akar highlighted the fight against terrorism.

“The Turkish Armed Forces are determined to fight, with its gendarmerie, police and security guards, successfully against all terror groups threatening our national unity and indivisible integrity without letting any of our innocent people be harmed, and until there is not even a single terrorist on our territories,” Akar said.

Victory Day marks the final battle against Greek forces in Dumlupinar in 1922, and is dedicated to Turkey’s armed forces.