Today, we, as the nation, together with our brothers and sisters in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, are excited to celebrate the 98^th anniversary of the Great Victory.

I wholeheartedly congratulate our citizens in our country and across the world on the August 30 Victory Day.

I express my gratitude to all our friends who are joining us for this day of pride for our country and sharing our enthusiasm for August 30.

Our fight for independence, initiated under the leadership of Ghazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk in Samsun in 1919, ended in a decisive and lasting victory with the Battle of the Commander-in-Chief on August 30^th.

The Turkish Nation opened the doors of Anatolia with the epic victory of Malazgirt in 1071 and it proclaimed to the entire world that these lands are our eternal homeland with the August 30 victory.

Turkey's struggle for independence and future continues today as well.

It is absolutely not a coincidence that those who seek to exclude us from the Eastern Mediterranean are the same invaders as the ones who attempted to invade our homeland a century ago.

Those who could not erase from their minds the painful memories of Çanakkale and the Great Victory, are still using their pawns to encircle our country today.

Just as it carried the fight for liberation to victory despite all kinds of impossibilities, it will not hesitate to thwart the aspirations for a Sèvres in the Blue Homeland today as well.

We will defend our legitimate rights stemming from international law and bilateral agreements in the Eastern Mediterranean till the end.

Just like in Malazgirt nine and a half centuries ago, in Çanakkale a century ago, in Dumlupınar 98 years ago, we are determined to annihilate the intentions of those who “measure up a shroud” for our nation today as well.

Our greatest source of confidence in this struggle is the support of our friends, the prayers of our brothers, the unity, fraternity and solidarity of our 83 million citizens.

With these thoughts in my mind, I commemorate with gratitude Ghazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk the founder of our Republic, the Commander-in-Chief of the Great Offensive, and his fellow fighters.

I wish Allah's mercy upon all our martyrs who have sacrificed their lives to protect this homeland for a thousand years, and wish healthy and peaceful lives to our veterans.

Happy August 30^thVictory Day!

RECEP TAYYİP ERDOĞAN

PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY