Çanakkale naval victory commemorated on its 97th anniversary

The northwestern province of Canakkale commemorated the 97th anniversary of the Canakkale naval victory with various commemorative activities on March 18.

Ceremonies were being held since March 12, but the largest and most crowded one was held on March 18, the 97th anniversary of the naval battle at Canakkale, which was won by the defending Ottoman army in 1915 and laid the groundwork for the Turkish War of Independence and the foundation of the Turkish Republic eight years later under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.

March 18 is also known as Martyrs’ Day, in which the martyrs of the battle are commemorated every year across Turkey. Busloads of people from various parts of Turkey arrived at Canakkale to attend commemorative ceremonies and activities.

The official ceremony started at 8:30 a.m. in the city square. Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc, along with National Interior Minister Idris Naim Sahin, Defense Minister Ismet Yilmaz and Environment and Forestry Minister Veysel Eroglu, attended the ceremony. Republican People’s Party (CHP) Deputy Muharrem Ince was also present as a representative for the main opposition party.

Arinc laid a wreath in front of the Ataturk monument on behalf of the Turkish nation and many other institutions laid wreaths in front of the monument of Ataturk in the city square. The ceremonies then moved to the March 18 Stadium.

Speaking at the stadium Arinc began by offering his condolences to relatives of 12 Turkish troops who were killed in a helicopter crash on the outskirts of the Afghan capital, Kabul, three days ago. Arınç then said the Canakkale naval victory was an epic battle for a nation which defeated the advanced navies of imperialist forces despite limited resources and lack of necessary firepower, so the Canakkale naval victory is unprecedented in this regard. “The struggle for national independence shown in the Canakkale battles became an example for other nations seeking their independence since then and the Canakkale naval victory showed the world that nothing is impossible if people stand in solidarity,” Arinc noted.

Arinc also announced that a simulation centre would be inaugurated in Canakkale which would enable Canakkale visitors to experience the memoirs of the Canakkale Victory in lifelike environments.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President Abdullah Gul, Parliament Speaker Cemil Cicek, Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu and Gendarmerie Force General Commander Nejdet Ozel, who didn’t attend the ceremonies, sent their messages to commemorate the victory and the names of the martyrs that were read out at the ceremony.

Following this, another ceremony was held in front of the “Canakkale Martyrs Memorial” in which the visitors commemorated the martyrs killed in the Battle of Gallipoli.

19.03.2012
SOURCE: DUNYA.COM