90th anniversary of Ataturk's arrival in Ankara marked

The 90th anniversary of Turkish Republic's founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk's arrival in Ankara was celebrated yesterday in a series of activities in the capital. A ceremony in the Dikmen district, where Ataturk first stepped into Ankara, began with one minute of silence followed by the national anthem and military marches. "There are such dates in which the nation's character, struggles, determination and heroism are embedded," Parliament Speaker Mehmet Ali Sahin Sahin told the ceremony. "Dec. 27, 1919 is such a date." The ceremony was also attended by President Abdullah Gul, Ankara Governor Kemal Onal, Ankara Greater Municipality Mayor Melih Gokcek, Ankara Garrison Commander Mehmet Emin Alpman, and large crowds of locals. Sahin called Ataturk's arrival in Ankara a milestone in the Turkish people's struggle to determine their own destiny and break the chains of foreign occupation. In his message marking the day, Gul said the enthusiastic welcome of thousands of Ankarans and people coming from surrounding provinces had encouraged and heartened Ataturk and his colleagues in their fight for national independence. Also speaking at the ceremony, Onal said, "Before Mustafa Kemal Ataturk's arrival in Ankara, his belief and spirit created hope among the people of Ankara." A marathon was held in Ankara to mark the anniversary, and Gul presented the top three runners in the men's and women's races with medals.