ERDOGAN: TERROR WON'T DETER TURKEY FROM CENTENARY GOALS

Ankara, 17 Muharram 1437/30 October 2015 (MINA) – President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has stressed Turkey will not give up on achieving its 100th anniversary targets in face of terrorist attacks or other incidents in the wider region.

“The developments in our region or terrorist attacks will not hold us back from reaching the goals that we set for 2023 — the centennial of our Republic,” he told attendees at the Oct. 29 Republic Day reception he hosted for the first time at the new Presidential Palace in Ankara, Anadolu Agency quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

His remarks came as the country celebrates the 92nd anniversary of the founding of the Republic of Turkey. Celebrations began early Thursday with a ceremony at the Anitkabir mausoleum of founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk in Ankara.

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Erdogan also wrote earlier in the day in Anitkabir Memorial Book at Ataturk’s mausoleum:

“We are happy to have reached the 92nd anniversary of the Republic of Turkey, Turkey’s Grand National Assembly of the Republic declared. We celebrate the 92nd anniversary of the Republic during historical developments which take place in our region. I would like to take this opportunity to express once again: we are determined to maintain our republic on the principle of one nation, one homeland, one flag and one state.”

The president’s Republic Day message also served as a response to the recent wave of deadly terror attacks that hit the country since July 20 Suruc bombing, including the Oct. 10 Ankara twin suicide bombings that left 102 people dead.

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Turkey’s army and police have been conducting operations against the terrorist organization PKK as the violence saw over 150 members of the security forces martyred, while more than 2,000 PKK terrorists were killed.

Erdogan also made a point of the early general election to be held on Sunday, saying Nov. 1 is vital for Turkey to leave behind the trials in the last five months after fruitless June 7 elections so as to resume “building a better future”.

“On Nov. 2 morning, we will all respect and claim the result no matter what the nation’s choice will be…Turkey has no time to waste, we will not tolerate any more losses. That’s why Sunday is really a breaking point for our country and the 2023 targets,” he said.

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Turkey returns to the polls after the June 7 election failed to produce a government and efforts to form a coalition proved futile.

The official recognition of the Republic of Turkey took place on Oct. 29, 1923 by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.

On that day, the new name of the nation and its status as a republic was declared.

After the declaration, a vote occurred in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey and Ataturk, a revolutionary statesman and founder of the Republic, was elected the first president by unanimous vote.

Since then, Turkey celebrates its Republic Day every year on Oct. 29. (T/P010/R03)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)