WE COMMEMORATE MARTYRS OF CANAKKALE WITH GRATITUDE

Delivering a written message on the occasion of Canakkale Naval Victory and Martyrs' Day, the Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis said that during the Canakkale War the world witnessed the courage and will of the Anatolian people and added that today their biggest power was the courage and will of the people.

Indicating that the Canakkale Naval Victory was one of the most important victories in Turkish history and implying that with this victory Ataturk showed his military genius and hero to the world. Bagis expressed that this victory was committed to memories with Great Leader Ataturk's words "You the mothers, who sent their sons from far away countries! Wipe away your tears. Your sons are now lying in our bosom. After having lost their lives in this land, they have become our sons as well."

Bagis emphasized that during this war the world witnessed the courage and will of the Anatolian people and continued his speech as follows:

"Today, our biggest power is the courage and will of the Turkish people. As Mr. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan indicated, Canakkale Victory is not only the immortal memory of our history; it is also one of the most powerful inspirations of the future. We have been trying for 9 years by drawing inspirations from this history. With this determination, in the 100th year of the Republic, we will continue to combat for more powerful, democratic and contemporary Turkey.

"On this occasion, I would like to commemorate with mercy and gratitude our martyrs lighting the way for us with their courage's and wills, while celebrating the 96th anniversary of the Canakkale Naval Victory."

The Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis attended a ceremony held at the Turkish embassy in the U.S. capital of Washington D.C. during his USA visit.

During his speech at the ceremony, Bagis pointed out that last year on 18 March we had commemorated the Turkish Martyrs in Canakkale with Mr. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and when the subject had been the freedom and future of the country and people, they could see again how the differences between them had been abolished. Bagis said "While we were walking to martyrdom and giving these carnations on the symbolic grave of Turkish martyrs I witnessed how young people sacrificed their lives for their country from all quarters of Turkey."