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Turkey celebrates 86th anniversary on Republic Day
Ceremonies in Ankara kicked off yesterday. Today, President Abdullah Gül and state dignitaries will be laying a wreath at Atatürk’s mausoleum, Anıtkabir. Gül will sign the Anıtkabir guestbook in the morning. Following this homage and a rendition of the Turkish national anthem, “İstiklal Marşı,” at Anıtkabir, Gül is expected to accept celebratory messages in Parliament. After a cortege at the Atatürk Cultural Center, Gül will hold a reception at the Çankaya presidential palace.
In İstanbul, several celebrations to commemorate the 85th anniversary of the republic are scheduled to take place. According to the İstanbul Police Department, the city’s main streets will be closed from 6 a.m. until the end of the ceremonies.
Meanwhile, Republic Day will be celebrated with Kurdish songs in the eastern province of Van. TRT 6, the Kurdish broadcasting channel of the state radio and television company TRT, is cooperating with the Van Governor’s Office to organize a Republic Concert. The concert started yesterday in central Van and will be broadcast on TRT 6.
Kurdish singer Berdan Mardini is the master of ceremonies at the event, and other Turkish and Kurdish singers also contributed their talents.
TRT 6 will also broadcast today’s Republic Day ceremonies taking place in Ankara. The celebrations will be translated into Kurdish simultaneously.
Gen. Başbuğ stresses unitary state
Chief of General Staff Gen. İlker Başbuğ stated yesterday in his Republic Day message that the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) is going to be a “steel barrier” before those who intend to divide Turkey.
In his message, posted on the General Staff’s Web site, Gen. Başbuğ emphasized the Turkish Republic’s qualities as a “nation-state, unitary state and secular-state.”
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