Turkish leader marks 96 years since Treaty of Lausanne

By Zehra Nur Duz

ANKARA (AA) - Marking the 96th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Lausanne, a landmark pact recognizing the modern Turkish state, Turkey’s president on Wednesday stressed the nation’s resilience in the face of external threats.

“Today, we are proud to celebrate the 96th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Lausanne, the founding document of the Republic of Turkey," said Recep Tayyip Erdogan in a statement.

Erdogan said this year also represents the centennial of the beginning of Turkish struggle for independence of 1919-1923.

"The Turkish War of Independence was fought against the world’s strongest armies and was crowned with the Treaty of Lausanne, the seal of independence of our country," Erdogan said.

“No threat of sanctions, either covert or overt, can deter Turkey from her just cause," Erdogan highlighted, alluding to recent sanctions threats that Turkey has repudiated.

"The Republic of Turkey, like a century ago, today also has the strength and determination to eradicate any threat directed towards her independence, survival, and the peace and security and safety of her citizens," he added.

Erdogan also stressed that Turkey's recent steps in the Eastern Mediterranean and northern Syria -- including drilling for natural resources and counter-terrorism operations -- clearly demonstrate its determination to protect the rights of both the Republic of Turkey and its sister nation, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).

Erdogan also commemorated Turkey’s founding father, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, and other noble Turkish veterans and martyrs with respect and gratitude.

The Treaty of Lausanne -- signed by Turkey on one side and Britain, France, Italy, Greece, and their allies on the other -- recognized the modern Turkish state and replaced the 1920 Treaty of Sevres, an unfair pact imposed on the Ottoman Empire after World War I.

In 1974, following a coup aimed at Greece’s annexation of the island of Cyprus, Turkey had to intervene as a guarantor power. In 1983, the TRNC was founded.

The decades since have seen several attempts to resolve the Cyprus dispute, all ending in failure. The latest one, held with the participation of the guarantor countries -- Turkey, Greece, and the U.K. -- ended in 2017 in Switzerland.