ADNAN MENDERES COMMEMORATED WITH PRAYERS ON THE 52ND ANNIVERSARY OF HIS EXECUTION

Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis stated that the ones who thought that they could kill Adnan Menderes by hanging had never estimated that a leader like Recep Tayyip Erdogan would come up one day.

Bagis attended the commemoration ceremony held at the Topkapi Cemetery in Istanbul on the occasion of the 52nd anniversary of executions of the Prime Minister, Adnan Menderes; theForeign Minister, Fatih Ruştu Zorlu; and the Minister of Finance, Hasan Polatkan.

Egemen Bagis said that the ones who thought that they could rule out Democratic Party (DP) and its program by executing Menderes and two of his ministers could not envisage that a party called Justice and Development Party would be formed one day. Bagis said: “The ones, who thought they were going to kill Menderes by hanging him, could not estimate that a new, brave leader, Recep Tayyip Erdogan would come up. Yes, today, heritage and claims of Democratic Party (DP) are on the shoulders of Justice and Development Party, which means there are in safe hands. The ambition of Menderes and his fellows to serve their country are represented by the presence of Tayyip Erdogan and his fellows. It has been 52 years since their death for their ideals. It has been 52 years since they sacrificed their lives on the gallows tree. However, our people’s longing for Adnan Menderes and his fellows and the faithfulness to their heritage have never changed.”

Stressing that the ones having caused this country to witness the shame of execution of Menderes and his fellows even did not have enough courage to confront people, let aside facing with their own shame, Egemen Bagis said that the ones who have lost once again after 52 years were those who had caused them to be executed, rather than Adnan Menderes, his fellows and their precious claims.

Stating that our nation has learned their lesson from those dark days and broke the chains of the custody in 2002, 2007 and 2010, Bagis also added: “That’s why our people protect the people of this country and their will by saying ‘You hanged Menderes, poisoned Ozal. We won’t let the same to happen to Tayyip Erdogan.’”

Remarking that they are progressing on the path towards EU accession with pace and determination, Bagis said: “The strongest assurance of living all together in this country is the Justice and Development Party. No one should have doubts about this. Now, there is a determined Justice and Development Party and a determined nation continuing the democracy struggle initiated by the deceased Menderes.”