The Victory Day to be marked for 91st time

ISTANBUL

Parliamentary Speaker Cemil Çiçek is seen at a car during a Victory Day ceremony in Ankara in this file photo. DAILY NEWS photo, Selahattin SÖNMEZ

The 91st anniversary of the Turkish victory over Greek forces in the War of Independence will be remembered around the country and in Turkish representations across the world today.

Turkish President Abdullah Gül released a message yesterday to mark Victory Day. President Gül, during his message on Victory Day, reiterated that the Aug. 30 Victory, which was won under the leadership of Atatürk and through the robust solidarity between the nation and army, was among the most significant turning points in history, saying, “It is our biggest objective to protect what we have been entrusted with by our martyrs and war veterans with the same understanding and resoluteness, and to enable our nation to live independently forever.”

Main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu announced that he would not attend the reception held by President Gül, which will be hosted in Gül’s Çankaya Residency instead of the General Staff Headquarters.

Devlet Bahçeli, leader of the other opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), had earlier announced that he was also not attending this year’s reception. The victory on Aug. 30, 1922, over the Greek military was the last big engagement between the two armies. Vatan Boulevard in Istanbul will be the main road for the celebration parades in the city, which will also take place in Ankara, İzmir and other cities across Turkey. The war began with the Greek invasion of İzmir in May 1919 after the end of World War I with tacit support from the Allies, especially Great Britain.