Gul, Erdoğan ıssue messages marking August 30 vitory day

Both President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan issued written messages over the weekend marking August 30 Victory Day. In his message, Gul said that the Turkish nation accomplished a historic victory under the leadership of commander in chief Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey, and that the Turkish Armed Forces, one of the world's strongest armies, has continued contributing to world peace. Erdogan said that the Aug. 30 victory achieved 87 years ago shows that the Turkish nation can never abandon its independence and unity. In his message marking the day, Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal underlined that August 30 means full independence, territorial integrity and brotherhood, adding that the Turkish people gained their independence through a united effort.