Turkey marks May 19 holiday today

18 May 2011, Wednesday

Turkey today marks the beginning of the War of Independence on the day Turkey's founder Mustafa Kemal Atatürk landed in Samsun, a symbolic move that led to the foundation of the Turkish Republic from the ashes of Ottoman Empire.

Atatürk Commemoration and Youth and Sports Day in Turkey is expected to be celebrated throughout Turkey, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC) and all Turkish foreign representative offices.

Turkish President Abdullah Gül and other party leaders, who are in Ankara, officials are expected to visit Anıtkabir first, the mausoleum of Atatürk, in capital Ankara.

On May 19, 1919, Atatürk, who would become modern Turkey's first president, landed on the main peninsula of Turkey to begin leadership of the liberation effort. In early 1920, Atatürk convened the first Turkish Grand National Assembly (Parliament) in Ankara, and by 1922 all of Anatolia was freed from foreign rule.

The independent Republic of Turkey was declared a year later.

During the course of his term as president, Atatürk himself proclaimed May 19 "Youth & Sports Day." In the aftermath of Atatürk's monumental legacy, the day serves to honor the country's founder as well.

Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu released a statement on Wednesday and congratulated people on the occasion of the holiday.

Ministers and government officials will participate in May 19 celebrations in May 19 Atatürk Stadium in Ankara and Türk Telekom Stadium in İstanbul.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said in a statement released on Wednesday that May 19, 1919 is a very important day for national memory and that the prosperous future of independent Turkey now belongs to youth. For this reason, Erdoğan said, Turkish government considers that investing in youth means investing in the future of the country.

Several ministers, deputies, party leaders and other officials also released the holiday statements, calling youth and people to better perceive the underlying meaning of the day.

Source: Today's Zaman.
Link: http://www.todayszaman.com/news-244406-turkey-marks-may-19-holiday-today.html.