Turkey commemorates Great Leader Ataturk

ANKARA (A.A) - November 10, 2011 - Turkey is commemorating Great Leader Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the Founder of Republic of Turkey, who passed away 73 years ago. Commemoration ceremonies are taking place throughout Turkey, in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and foreign representations on Thursday. Turkish President Abdullah Gul, Parliament Speaker Cemil Cicek, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Republican People's Party (CHP) chairman Kemal Kilicdaroglu as well as pillars of the state laid a wreath at Ataturk's Mausoleum--Anitkabir. They observed a minute of silence in Ataturk's respect at 9:05 a.m., when Ataturk passed away 73 years ago. Sirens were rang throughout the country, flags were hoisted at half-mast to commemorate the Great Leader. Moreover, a commemoration ceremony will take place at the Ataturk Culture, Language and History Authority. President Gul, Parliament Speaker Cicek and Prime Minister Erdogan are expected to attend the ceremony. State executives issued messages to commemorate Ataturk. In his message, President Gul said Ataturk not only saved the country with the War of Independence he pioneered, but also paved the way for the Turkish state to have their own state and to become a nation with a high self-confidence. Parliament Speaker Cicek said Ataturk blocked a 250,000-year withdrawal with a historic duty and responsibility he had undertaken and brightened the path of Turkish nation. In his message, Premier Erdogan said it should not be forgotten that November 10, 1938 was not the end of an era but the beginning of a new era in which the Republic would be developed and made more prosperous. Also, CHP chairman Kemal Kilicdaroglu released a message in which he said commemorating Ataturk meant protecting the republic, democracy, freedoms and independence more and more each passing day. Born in 1881 in Thessaloniki, Ataturk was a Turkish army officer, revolutionary statesman, and Founder of Republic of Turkey as well as its First President. Ataturk became known as an extremely capable military officer during World War I. Following the defeat of the Ottoman Empire, he led the Turkish national movement in the Turkish War of Independence. Having established a provisional government in Ankara, he defeated the forces sent by the Allies. His successful military campaigns led to the liberation of the country and to the establishment of Turkey. During his presidency, Ataturk embarked upon a program of political, economic, and cultural reforms. An admirer of the Age of Enlightenment, he sought to transform the former Ottoman Empire into a modern, democratic, and secular nation-state. The principles of Ataturk's reforms, upon which modern Turkey was established, are referred to as Kemalism. Mustafa Kemal Ataturk died at 9:05 a.m. on November 10, 1938 at the age of 57. On November 10, daily life and traffic stops at 9:05 a.m. for two minutes as sirens wailing and people observing two minutes of silence out of respect to Ataturk.