Gul, Erdogan stress national sovereignty and unity at meeting honoring Ataturk

President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday attended a memorial ceremony marking the 70th anniversary of the death of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey. The ceremony was held by the Ataturk Supreme Council for Culture and History.

Also attending the ceremony were Constitutional Court Chief Justice Hasim Kilic, Chief of General Staff Gen. Ilker Basbug, and many other state and government officials and guests.

Addressing the gathering, President Gul said that he believes Turkey is successfully moving towards surpassing the level of modern civilized nations, a goal set by Ataturk. Noting how Ataturk placed great importance on Parliament remaining open even during the War of Independence, Gul also said that Ataturk had made and realized his all decisions in consultation with Parliament.

Also addressing the ceremony, Premier Erdogan stressed that Turkey has made great strides on the path towards integration with the modern world in line with the founding ideals of the Turkish Republic. "Turkey has been elected to (a temporary seat on) the UN Security Council and is taking determined steps towards full European Union membership," he added. "We have become a country which plays a key role in solving regional and global problems, and bridging rifts between civilizations."

Erdogan also stressed the great importance of democracy, national sovereignty and will, and unity and solidarity for Turkey to continue its development. "We should focus on our goals in concert and solidarity by protecting our common values," he urged. "Only in this way can we build the dynamic, independent, powerful and leading Turkey of the future."