Atatürk commemorated in Athens on the 87th anniversary of his passing

The founder of the Republic of Türkiye, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, was commemorated in Athens on the 87th anniversary of his passing with a ceremony held at the Turkish Embassy.

The event began with a moment of silence followed by the Turkish National Anthem. Attendees included embassy and consulate staff, military personnel, representatives of Turkish institutions in Athens, and members of the Turkish community.

In her address, Şahika Deniz Hançer, First Counsellor of the Turkish Embassy, emphasized Atatürk’s enduring influence:

“Although Atatürk left us physically 87 years ago, his ideas, principles, and ideals continue to guide and inspire us. We draw strength from these principles and carry the duty of keeping his ideals alive with great honor and responsibility.”

Hançer noted that no other leader in the world has been as deeply loved and emulated by his people as Atatürk, describing him as “an unparalleled leader who united his nation during the War of Independence, a commander on the battlefield, a statesman who founded a new nation, and a reformer who modernized his people.”

She added that serving in Greece, where Atatürk was born in Selanik, carries a special sense of responsibility, and underlined that Türkiye continues to pursue relations with Greece based on mutual interests and cooperation.

Atatürk was also commemorated in a separate ceremony at his birthplace in Selanik, recently reopened after a comprehensive restoration.

The ceremony at the Atatürk House Museum, inaugurated yesterday by Turkish Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, was attended by Turkish Ambassador to Greece Çağatay Erciyes, Consul General in Thessaloniki Serkan Gedik, TİKA President Abdullah Eren, members of the Western Thrace Turkish Minority Advisory Board, and visitors from Türkiye and across Europe.