Türkiye celebrates 102nd anniversary of Republic in Athens
Türkiye’s 102nd Republic Day was celebrated in Athens with a reception hosted by the Turkish Ambassador to Greece, Çağatay Erciyes, at the Turkish Embassy residence.
The event was attended by Deputy Foreign Minister Aleksandra Papadopulu, Rodopi MP Özgür Ferhat, representatives of foreign diplomatic missions in Athens, members of the press, academics, and invited guests.
The ceremony began with the national anthems of both Türkiye and Greece, accompanied on the piano by Demirkan Baltacı, a young pianist from the Western Thrace Turkish community.
In his remarks, Ambassador Erciyes conveyed a message from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on the occasion of Republic Day. He highlighted that under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the Republic of Turkey has made significant progress over the past century, ranking among the world’s top 20 economies with its dynamic private sector, young and educated population, advanced industry, and innovative entrepreneurship.
Erciyes emphasized Türkiye’s diverse production, ranging from basic goods to advanced defense industry products, noting that the country’s exports are expected to reach $290 billion in 2025.
Turning to Turkish-Greek relations, the ambassador stated that the positive climate between the two countries has yielded tangible results in areas such as economy, trade, tourism, and culture. He stressed that maintaining this momentum would benefit both nations and create an environment conducive to resolving all fundamental issues.
Referring to Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan’s remarks on the possibility of lasting peace in the Aegean and Mediterranean, Erciyes underlined that Türkiye possesses the political will and courage to realize this vision.
He added that all core issues between Türkiye and Greece could be resolved through sincere and meaningful dialogue based on international law and good-neighborly relations. This, he said, requires respect for Türkiye’s legitimate and vital rights and interests, learning friendship rather than hostility from history, approaching the future with reason and prudence, and discarding unfounded fears, prejudices, and misconceptions about Türkiye.
