“Journey from Rumelia to Ankara” talk draws strong interest
The Gümülcine Turkish Youth Union hosted a well-attended talk titled “From Homeland Rumelia to New Homeland Ankara”, organized by the Western Thrace Minority Culture and Education Company (BAKEŞ). The event took place at the Union’s headquarters and attracted significant participation from the local Turkish community.
Opening the program, BAKEŞ President Hüseyin Bostancı welcomed the guest speaker, Dr. Selim Erdoğan, an author and academic, highlighting the historical significance of Selanik in Turkish history. Bostancı noted that the city, as the birthplace of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, is a cornerstone of Turkish identity.
During his presentation, Dr. Erdoğan illustrated the political and military climate of the era using historical photographs of Atatürk and his close collaborators. Highlighting Thessaloniki prior to the Balkan Wars, he shared anecdotes about the friendship between Mustafa Kemal Pasha and Şükrü Naili Gökberk Pasha, and recounted the shared destinies of the commanders depicted in the photos.
Dr. Erdoğan also detailed a pivotal moment preceding the proclamation of the Republic, describing a coded message received from Atatürk by Şükrü Naili Gökberk Pasha following the capture of Istanbul:
“Şükrü Nail Bey, tomorrow we proclaim the Republic.”
A question-and-answer session followed the presentation, during which Dr. Erdoğan addressed participants’ inquiries and expressed his desire to meet with the Turkish community in Western Thrace whenever possible.
In the closing remarks, Turkish Consul General in Komotini Aykut Ünal thanked all contributors for their support in making the event a success.
The program was attended by Consul General Aykut Ünal and his wife İlayda Ünal, Deputy Consul Ali Tosun, BAKEŞ President Hüseyin Bostancı, Komotini Mufti İbrahim Şerif, FEP Party President Çiğdem Asafoğlu, local officials, and representatives of various institutions.
