Turkey celebrated the 103rd anniversary of its founding on Thursday, October 29, with a series of official ceremonies, public events, and cultural performances across the country. The celebrations were attended by citizens, with streets and public spaces decorated with Turkish flags and images of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Turkish Republic. The anniversary marks 103 years since Atatürk declared the establishment of the Turkish Republic on October 29, 1923.
The official ceremonies began at Atatürk's mausoleum in Ankara, where Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan led the tributes. Erdoğan was joined by senior officials, including Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş, Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz, and representatives from political parties and the government. Erdoğan laid a wreath of flowers bearing the Turkish flag, followed by a minute of silence and the national anthem.
In Istanbul, the main streets and tourist areas were decorated with Turkish flags and Atatürk's images. A formal ceremony was held at the Jemaal Reshit Rey concert hall, organized by the Istanbul Governorate, which began with a minute of silence and the national anthem accompanied by a musical orchestra. In Izmir, celebrations took place in Cumhuriyet Square, attended by Izmir Governor Suleyman Elban and military and local officials.
The celebrations included parades, cultural performances, and traditional folk music and dance shows. In Diyarbakir, the ceremonies were held in front of the Anatolia Garden in Yenişehir district, attended by Governor Murat Zorluoğlu and military and local officials. In Kars, the celebrations featured performances by commandos and Caucasian folk music groups.
The celebrations extended to other cities, including Şanlıurfa, Batman, Sakarya, Kırıkkale, Düzce, Aydın, Ardahan, Balıkesir, Elazığ, Muğla, Nevşehir, and Sinop. In each city, official ceremonies, parades, and cultural events were organized. In Cairo, the Turkish Embassy held a reception to mark the anniversary, attended by around 1,500 people, including Turkish citizens, Egyptian officials, and diplomats.
Turkish Ambassador to Cairo, Salih Müslü Şen, said that the founding of the Turkish Republic 103 years ago came after the suffering of World War I. He emphasized that Turkey has adopted a policy of peace, good neighborliness, and cooperation. Şen also expressed his opposition to the resumption of war against Iran and stressed the need to resolve conflicts through negotiations.
Şen highlighted the growing cooperation between Turkey and Egypt, describing the partnership as a necessity for achieving security, stability, and development in the Eastern Mediterranean. He mentioned that at least 50 new Turkish production facilities have been opened in Egypt since 2022, providing job opportunities for around 100,000 Egyptians. The two countries aim to increase their trade volume to nearly $9 billion this year.
Key points
- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan led the tributes at Atatürk's mausoleum in Ankara.
- The celebrations included parades, cultural performances, and traditional folk music and dance shows across the country.
- Turkish Ambassador to Cairo emphasized the growing cooperation between Turkey and Egypt.
