101st anniversary of Turkish Republic celebrated in Athens
The Turkish Republic’s 101st anniversary was celebrated in Athens with a reception hosted by Türkiye’s Ambassador to Greece, Çağatay Erciyes, at the Turkish Embassy Residence. The events were held in two sessions, afternoon and evening, bringing together nearly 800 guests, including representatives from the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs, officials from other public institutions, foreign diplomatic missions, military attachés, artists, academics, business leaders, Turkish citizens, and expatriates.
Among the notable attendees were Greek Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni, Deputy Foreign Minister Alexandra Papadopoulou, National Intelligence Service (EYP) Director Themistoklis Demiris, Deputy Government Spokesperson Aristotelia Peloni, Governor of the Bank of Greece Yannis Stournaras, and U.S. Ambassador to Greece George Tsunis.
The ceremony began with renditions of the Turkish and Greek national anthems, followed by a video message from President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. In his speech, Ambassador Erciyes highlighted Turkey's strong economy, dynamic and educated young population, and solid democratic foundation, positioning it as a responsible and active member of the international community.
Addressing Turkish-Greek relations, Erciyes expressed gratitude for the condolence messages sent following the recent terror attack on TUSAŞ. He emphasized the importance of bilateral cooperation, recalling that President Erdoğan and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis have met six times over the past 16 months. According to Erciyes, this vision has revived dialogue channels and strengthened high-level and technical meetings, resulting in joint projects and tangible progress in the economy, trade, investment, tourism, and cultural sectors.
Erciyes noted that Turkey-Greece trade volume is expected to exceed $6.2 billion by year-end, with record tourism figures anticipated. He also mentioned an upcoming visit to Athens by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and a planned High-Level Cooperation Council (HLCC) meeting in Ankara in early 2025. While acknowledging the historical, political, and psychological challenges, Erciyes expressed optimism that all disputes can be resolved through sincere dialogue, respect for legitimate rights and interests, and a commitment to peace and good neighborliness.
Among the guests was also Ergin Ataman, head coach of Türkiye's national basketball team and Greece's Panathinaikos team.
Photo: Anadolu Agency (AA)
