Turkey marks centenary of Ataturk's arrival in Ankara

By Erdogan Cagatay Zontur

ANKARA (AA) – Turkey on Friday commemorated the centenary of the arrival of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey, in the capital Ankara.

The commemoration events started at Anitkabir, the mausoleum of Ataturk, with the attendance of top officials. Ankara Governor Vasip Sahin laid a wreath on Ataturk’s tomb.

As part of the ceremonies, a run along 11 kilometers (6.8 miles) started in Ankara’s Dikmen neighborhood, where Ataturk first stepped in Ankara.

Attending the traditional Ataturk Garrison Run, civilians, Turkish soldiers of various ranks and military students are running to reach the Ankara Train Station in the city center.

Ataturk’s arrival was marked as a milestone in Turkish people's struggle in the country's War of Independence, which started on May 19, 1919.

The war led to a great victory on Sept. 9, 1922 and was crowned with the proclamation of the republic on Oct. 29, 1923.

- Commemoration messages

Meanwhile, Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy commemorated Ataturk and all Turkish martyrs on the occasion.

In his message, Ersoy stressed the responsibility to transfer every detail of the Independence War to the next generations, calling it the “most glorious struggle for the independence in the world history.”

He said the nation will always recall that the war was “one of the turning points of our national struggle.”

Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the leader of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), also remembered Ataturk’s arrival in Ankara.

"I would like to express my gratitude to all our heroes who established our republic and gave us the opportunity to live in this land free and dignified,” Kilicdaroglu said in a statement.

- Stamp exhibition

Turkey's postal service PTT and Federation Of Philatelic Associations of Turkey organized the Ankara National Stamp Exhibition to mark the centenary of the founder’s arrival.

At the exhibition, a commemorative stamp and a first day cover was also presented with the title of "Centenary of Ataturk's arrival in Ankara".

Kenan Bozgeyik, the PTT head, told Anadolu Agency that the event reminds people of how the country was saved and the sacrifices made for the sake of an independent nation.