A warm welcome to all of you. Thank you for joining us today to mark the 99^thanniversary of the proclamation of the Turkish Republic. We are very happy by your presence. I know some of you traveled far and wide or had to set aside what you were doing to get here, and I want you to know that we appreciate that.

As I said, this is the 99^th Anniversary of the Turkish Republic. Just one year shy of the big 100! This is an anniversary not only of the Turkish state but of the wholesale transformation of the Turkish nation itself.

They say that if the shadows of the past grow taller than the people themselves, then the sun must be setting on that country.That is why 99 years ago, our great leader Atatürksaw that change was necessary, and he took the lead to achieve that change. Itwas surely not simply an alteration in branding. We had to achieve change atthe core.

We had to change how we governed ourselves. How we would be educated. How we measured distances, even how we measured time. We changed our alphabet. We got ourselves last names. Women would get the right to vote very soon after, much earlier than several other nations on the world stage, and we are particularly proud of that.In short, we had to reinvent ourselves. So wedid, and still do as necessary. In fact, that capacity, willingness andeagerness to always move forward, the seeds of which were planted nearly acentury ago, is what today helps us to make a difference regionally and sometimeseven globally. That is what we are actually commemorating today. So you couldsay that this is as much a celebration of a birthday as it is an anniversaryfor the Turks.

Now, if you allow me, I will to say a few words in Turkish in order to address those who speak our language either by virtue of ethnicity or nationality or as a result of simple curiosity – through watching all those Turkish series on TV.I will be conveyingthe message of President Erdoğan who sends his greetings and salutations toall.

(The message of H.E. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan)

Dear guests, thank you for your indulgence.

Before I end, I just want to say that today’s gathering also carries a personal significance for me and my wife Jasmina. After 4 years in Greece, I am about to pass the proverbial baton to my worthy and able successor. This will therefore be the last national day reception that we will be holding in Athens, and that makes it even more special for the both of us.Looking back at thesefour years, I do see a lot of turbulence in the bilateral relationship, to besure. But I also see a few - frankly - elegant moments. Like all those times wehelped each other by caring for and repatriating our citizens who were stucknot only in each other’s country but even in faraway lands during the worstdays of the pandemic. Or the immediate outpouring of genuine sympathy and swiftoffers to lend a helping hand in times of emergencies.

I just wish that we didn’t need fires, earthquakes or other calamities to remind us that we are neighbors.

Still, I must say that I am confident that we can and indeed we must define our bilateral relationship in more reasonable, sensible and conciliatory terms in the years to come.

I can guarantee you that we will never run out of disputes or disagreements between the two sides of the Aegean. But it seems to me that we just have to agree to handle our differences better. And we need to keep repeating to ourselves that not every dispute should create an enemy.

Anyway, I am heartened by the polls that clearly indicate that a great chunk of Turkish society does not harbor hostile feelings towards the Greek people. And on the flip side, according to other polls, it is somewhat encouraging to see that despite all the talk and the noise, Turks are not at the top of the list of people
disliked by the Greeks. I guess that’s a good start! It goes to show that you really shouldn’t believe everything you read in the papers!

So. Thank you Greece, for giving me the opportunity and the honor of representing my country here. Thank you, Athenians, for your camaraderie during the lockdowns and all the difficult times of the pandemic . And thank you all, for showing up today and for all your flowers and other memories, for your support and friendship during our stay here.

Please enjoy the rest of this glorious afternoon.