SKOPJE/PRISTINA/ Great Leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey, was commemorated with ceremonies on the occasion of the 88th anniversary of his passing away in the Balkan countries of North Macedonia, Albania, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro and Croatia.
Representatives of Turkish institutions and organizations in the country attended the ceremony held at the embassy residence, hosted by Türkiye’s Ambassador to Skopje, Alper Aktaş.
Following the moment of silence at 09.05 local time at the Embassy residence, the National Anthem was sung.
Third secretary Elif Sal, in her speech here, said that November 10 is not only a day when the Turkish nation lost a great leader, but also a meaningful day when they remember once again the values of the Republic, the ideal of independence and the goal of modernization that he entrusted to them.
Albania
Great Leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was commemorated in Tirana, the capital of Albania, on the 88th anniversary of his passing away.
Representatives of Turkish institutions and organizations in the country attended the ceremony hosted by Türkiye’s Ambassador to Tirana Barış Ceyhun Erciyes.
The ceremony started with a moment of silence and the reading of the National Anthem.
In her speech here, Third Secretary Burcu Yakıcı stated that Atatürk, as a leader who went beyond the age with his thoughts, showed the whole world that development and progress were possible not only with economic and military power, but also with the richness of education, thought and culture, with the importance he gave to education, science, art and culture.
Kosovo
Atatürk was commemorated with a ceremony held in Pristina, the capital of Kosovo, on the 88th anniversary of his passing away.
The ceremony held at the residence of the Turkish Embassy in Pristina was attended by the Temporary Chargé d’Affaires of the Turkish Embassy in Pristina Babür Hızlan, Deputy Chairman of the Kosovo Democratic Turkish Party (KDTP) and Deputy Minister of Defense of Kosovo Enis Kervan, KDTP Members of Parliament Fatma Taci and Ergül Mazrek, NATO’s Peace Force in Kosovo (KFOR) Deputy Commander Brigadier General Onur Çakıcı, as well as representatives of Turkish institutions in Kosovo. Many guests attended.
The ceremony started with a moment of silence and the reading of the National Anthem.
In his speech here, Hızlan stated that they commemorated Atatürk and his comrades with respect, gratitude and mercy.
The ceremony ended with a speech about the meaning and importance of the day.
On the other hand, commemoration programs were organized in the city of Prizren in the south of Kosovo on the 88th anniversary of the passing away of the Great Leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Many embassy employees and representatives of Turkish institutions and organizations attended the ceremony hosted by Ambassador Emin Akseki at the Turkish Embassy in Sarajevo.
In his speech here, Akseki stated that they commemorated Mustafa Kemal Atatürk with respect and gratitude, and stated that Atatürk and his comrades fought great struggles in the defense of the homeland, that they played an important role in the independence of the Turkish nation, and that it is important to transfer the legacy he left to future generations.
Serbia
Participants of the ceremony held at the Turkish Embassy in Belgrade, hosted by Ambassador İlhan Saygılı, left carnations for Atatürk’s photo.
Saygılı stated that he commemorates Atatürk with respect, longing and gratitude and said, “There are some leaders who only shape the times they live in, and some leaders shape the future, and our Atatürk was one of these great leaders.” he said.
Croatia
Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to Zagreb Anar İmanov, representatives of Turkish institutions and organizations, citizens, and academicians and students from the Turcology Department of the University of Zagreb attended the ceremony held in Croatia’s capital Zagreb, hosted by Türkiye’s Ambassador to Zagreb Nurdan Erpulat Altuntaş.
Ambassador Altuntaş stated that Atatürk packed many victories, successes and revolutions into his short life, and that although many years have passed since his death, he is still remembered with love and respect by young people.
Montenegro
Representatives of Turkish institutions and organizations as well as embassy employees attended the ceremony hosted by Ambassador Ayda Ünlü at the Turkish Embassy in Podgorica.
In his speech here, Ünlü stated that commemorating Atatürk gains value by understanding him, and that November 10 should not only commemorate Atatürk but also lead to understanding his ideas and struggle.
