Turkey has made great progress in democratization, says President Gul

On the occasion of the 75th anniversary of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk's death, President Abdullah Gul attended on Sunday the official ceremony held at Anitkabir (Ataturk's mausoleum) in Ankara, where he marked the beginning of the ceremony by laying a wreath. Afterwards, delivering a speech at the commemoration ceremony organized by the Ataturk Supreme Council for Culture, Language and History at the National Library in Ankara, Gul said, "Turkey is very strong today, a country that has won the tribute of the whole world with its economic, political and military strength and with its other rising standards in all areas. We have made great progress in the democratization of our Republic through comprehensive legislation," adding, "Leading our nation with his gallantry, sagacity, wisdom and unshakable resoluteness at a time when our nation was going through extraordinary conditions, Ataturk left his mark in the history of Turkey and the world and won the appreciation of humanity for his vision, ideas and for what he achieved during his life time. It was Ataturk's biggest objective throughout his life that the Turkish nation should live as an honorable nation." At the end of his speech, Gul commemorated Ataturk with tribute and gratitude.