Turkey will ‘spoil games’ with force if necessary, Erdoğan says at Republic Day reception

Turkey will “spoil the games” targeting it “with force if necessary,” President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan vowed in a reception at his Presidential Complex to mark Republic Day on Oct. 29.

“If those against us act within the boundaries of democracy, we will use the rules of democracy. If those against us act in line with rights and law, we will use the rules of law. But if those against us do not abide by either of these then we will spoil their games through force,” Erdoğan said.

“The veteran Mustafa Kemal [Atatürk], who established the Republic [of Turkey] and who we remember with grace, determined a target for our new state. This target was ‘rising to the level of contemporary civilization,’” he added.

“Attacks have been continuing almost non-stop for years. Today we are addressing obstacles that have been put up in front of us, thanks to God’s help and with the support of our people. Thanks to God the projects and scenarios that have succeeded globally and regionally have not succeeded in our country,” Erdoğan said, repeating his recent line that “Turkey is not a tribal country.” 

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan talks with Doğan Group Honorary Chairman Aydın Doğan.

‘Coups, juntas, tutelage attemps dark spots’

“Turkey, with its historical accumulation of many centuries, is a country that stands as an example to other countries in the world. Those who think that the Turkish nation only consists of 80 million citizens have not noticed the hundreds of millions of brothers and sisters praying for us and directing their hearts and eyes to us,” the president stated.

“The word ‘captivity’ does not exist in our book ... The word ‘slave’ does not exist for us. For us only serving God exists. In our book there can be no staying quiet in the face of injustice … For us, freedom stands above everything. Our sacred values, our azan [Islamic call to prayer] and our flag come even before our own lives,” Erdoğan said.

He also said in his reception speech that coups, juntas and “tutelage attempts” are dark spots that have cast a shadow over the achievements of the Republic of Turkey.

“Our nation smashed enemies coming against it with the ultimate weapons at the [Battle of Dumlupınar] in the Gallipoli campaign [during the World War I in 1915] with this soul, as well as on July 15, [2016 military coup attempt]. Is it possible to crush this country’s children under tanks? That is the meaning of the struggle we are waging against those who support and encourage terrorist organizations within our country and outside our bounders,” Erdoğan said.

“We are planning to celebrate the 100th anniversary of our republic in 2023 with the vision we have established and the goals we have set for 2023,” he said, adding that the government is working “day and night” ahead of the 100th anniversary of the republic.

The reception was attended by local and foreign guests from politics, arts, business and sports, including Doğan Holding Honorary Chairman Aydın Doğan, daily Hürriyet board member Vuslat Doğan Sabancı, daily Hürriyet editor-in-chief Fikret Bila, daily Hürriyet Ankara representative Hande Fırat, Hürriyet Daily News editor-in-chief Murat Yetkin, Doğan TV Ankara representative Hakan Çelik, Suna-İnan Kıraç Foundation Vice Chair İnan Kıraç, Fenerbahçe President Aziz Yıldırım, Galatasaray President Dursun Özbek and Turkish-German football player Mesut Özil.

Also present at the reception were six miners who made headlines in September after a photo emerged of them insisting on standing while traveling in a municipal bus after a shift in order to not “dirty” the seats.

Turkish PM Binali Yıldırım shakes hands with Hürriyet board member Vuslat Doğan Sabancı as Aydın Doğan looks on.