Turkey marks the 97th anniversary of its Republic Day with limited celebrations as the country is foreseeing a sharp rise in the COVID-19 cases with the arrival of the flu.
To mark the day, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has visited Anıtkabir and later accepted greetings at the presidential complex.
“With the courage from our glorious past full of victories, we will continue to walk towards our common future in unity, solidarity and brotherhood,” Erdoğan wrote in the Anıtkabir memorial book.
“The attempts confronting our country from within and abroad, strengthens our tenacity to struggle and further increases our determination,” he added.
“Our country will continue acting on its own vision and agenda regardless of what others say or do,” Erdoğan said.
Republic Day is being celebrated in all provinces of Turkey and the country’s representations abroad.
“No other program will be allowed to be organized by any other institution apart from the ceremony and celebration program approved by the governor,” according to an Interior Ministry’s circular, laying out measures for the day.
The usual Oct. 29 Republic Day reception will also not be held due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Local authorities will mark the day with light and sound shows in the streets as well as celebrations in a digital environment.
Meanwhile, hundreds of associations, law societies, non-governmental organizations, government offices, city councils, schools and businesses have already released celebration messages to mark the anniversary.
The official proclamation of the Turkish Republic by Atatürk took place on Oct. 29, 1923, when the name of the nation and its status as a republic were declared.
A vote then took place in the Grand National Assembly, and Atatürk, a revolutionary statesman, was elected as the first president of modern Turkey by a unanimous vote.
Since then, Turkey celebrates Republic Day every year on Oct. 29.
Hurriyet Daily News