ANKARA - The 79th foundation anniversary of the Turkish Republic is celebrated in the whole country, representations abroad and in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) with ceremonies.
The first ceremony was held in Ataturk's Mausoleum.
Signing the Special Book of the Mausoleum, Sezer said that ''our nation will never give concessions from Ataturk's principles, reforms and the aim of modernization and it mill make the Republic live forever with its institutions and rules.''
President Sezer, Parliament Speaker Omer Izgi, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok, Deputy Prime Minister and MHP leader Devlet Bahceli, Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Sukru Sina Gurel, Constitution Court Chairman Mustafa Bumin, ministers, commanders, DYP leader Tansu Ciller, SP leader Recai Kutan, AK Party leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan, CHP leader Deniz Baykal, Ankara governor Yahya Gur, Ankara mayor Melih Gokcek and other officials attended the ceremony.
The ceremony in the Mausoleum started at 8.45 a.m.
KOSOVO
The celebrations which began with laying a wreath in front of the bust of Ataturk, the founder of Turkish Republic, in Kosovo Turkish Battalion Force Commandership in Prizren, continued with a reception which Kosovo Peace Force (KPF) officials, parliamentarians, municipality administrators and representatives of several associations attended.
Delivering a speech at the reception, Kosovo Turkish Peace Force Commander Lieutenant Colonel Armagan Demirer said that celebrating 79th foundation anniversary of Turkish Republic in Kosovo where they were working to provide peace, tranquility and security had a great meaning.
Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok who sent a message to Turkish soldiers in Kosovo said that Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) would continue to eliminate all kinds of threats against Turkish Republic and provide peace and tranquility in the region.
In his message, Ozkok said that TAF will continue to contribute to the world and region peace against terrorism, racism and religious fundamentalism which threatens the international peace and stability, by respecting Mustafa Kemal Ataturk's principle, ''Peace at Home, Peace in World''.
TRNC
The celebrations started with the ceremony held at Lefkosa Ataturk Monument. Speaking in the ceremony, TRNC Acting President Unal Ustel said that ''the Turkish Cypriot people who know that it can exist together with a strong Turkey, has adapted the Turkish Republic as an administration model for itself.'' Noting that TRNC was always supported by Turkey while it resisted against embargoes, and pressure, Ustel said that the fight of Turkish Cypriot for existance has not ended.
Ustel underlined the fact that they won't accept any political solution model which does not respect the historical Turkish existance in Cyprus and its rights on the island, stressing that they are not minority in Cyprus and that they have equal sovereignty.
Ustel said that a possible solution on the island depends on ''two separate states, bi-zonality, political equality, sovereignty and effective and de facto gurantee of Turkey.''
TURKMENISTAN
The ceremonies which was held in Ashgabat Turkish primary school began with Turkish Ambassador to Turkmenistan Mehmet Bahattin Gursoz's laying a wreath in front of the bust of Ataturk, the founder of Turkish Republic.
Delivering a speech at the ceremony, Gursoz said that Turkish Republic, as a democratic and a secular legal state, which recorded great progresses in all fields took its place in the world and added that Turkey which was an important power in its region exerted efforts to protect the world peace.
AFGHANISTAN
Afghan Vice President Hedayat Amin Arsala, Afghan Chief of General Staff Asýf Dilaver, International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) Commander Gen. Hilmi Akýn Zorlu, U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Robert Finn, many Afghan cabinet members and diplomats attended the ceremony.