Erdogan poziva na tursko jedinstvo kako bi se započelo "stoletje Turske"

U.S. President Donald Trump spoke by telephone with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Thursday while the latter hosted a dinner for leaders of the Organization of Turkic States in Ankara. The conversation occurred as Turkey marked the 103rd anniversary of the founding of its republic on October 29. According to a statement from the presidential communications directorate, the two leaders discussed the upcoming 13th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the OTS, which Ankara is set to host. This exchange represented the second direct contact between the two heads of state in less than 24 hours. During the call, Erdoğan conveyed greetings from the other Turkic leaders present at the dinner. He informed Trump that the summit would aim to adopt decisions designed to strengthen the organization’s role in regional cooperation. Erdoğan emphasized the growing significance of the OTS as a stabilizing force in Central Asia, noting that its member nations represent a combined population exceeding 200 million. In response, Trump extended his best wishes regarding the upcoming summit. Earlier on Wednesday, the communications directorate stated that Erdoğan had told Trump that Turkey was pursuing a diplomatic resolution to tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and Yemen, adding that Ankara was closely monitoring developments in the region. At the dinner reception, which served as the opening for the two-day summit themed “Turkic Century: Unity in Language, Thought and Deed,” Erdoğan called for increased unity across the Turkic world. He argued that solidarity, mutual respect, and brotherhood would help usher in a new era he termed the “Century of Türkiye.” The summit agenda includes addressing regional cooperation, bolstering solidarity among member states, and advancing the Turkic World Vision 2040. Established in 2009, the OTS currently counts Turkey, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan as full members. Turkmenistan, Hungary, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, and the Economic Cooperation Organization hold observer status within the body. Erdoğan marked the Republic Day occasion by celebrating it alongside what he referred to as the organization’s “family council.” He described the Republic of Türkiye as a shared achievement and common roof for 86 million people, stating that the nation continues to achieve major gains in every field. Drawing a parallel to the republic’s founding 103 years prior, Erdoğan declared that Turkey was determined to overcome those seeking to obstruct its goals. He noted that just as the founding will of the republic forced seven powers to kneel and liberated the homeland from occupation, the current government remained committed to eliminating obstacles to its objectives. He pledged to work with full strength to elevate the republic, founded under difficult conditions, above the level of contemporary civilizations. Nationwide celebrations accompanied the political gatherings in Ankara. Hundreds of thousands of people visited Anıtkabir, the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the modern Turkish state, starting in the early hours of October 29. The republic was originally proclaimed on October 29, 1923, following a nearly four-year War of Independence. Historical records indicate that on the evening of October 28, 1923, Atatürk invited close associates to a dinner at Çankaya Mansion in Ankara, where he reportedly told them, “Tomorrow, we shall proclaim the republic.” Public festivities included parades, cultural performances, and official ceremonies. In Ankara, a parade moved from the Turkish Parliament to the historic First Parliament building in Ulus. The Turkish Air Force aerobatic team, known as the Turkish Stars, performed over Anıtkabir. In Istanbul, motorcyclists rode across the July 15 Martyrs Bridge during a parade. Other cities such as Izmir, Kutahya, Mardin, and Zonguldak held ceremonies featuring poetry recitals, folk dances, and student flag displays. In Samsun, the Black Sea province where Atatürk launched the national liberation struggle in 1919, students carried a Turkish flag measuring 1,919 meters in length on October 28. Additional commemorative activities included a two-day journey by 45 horse riders along the 95-kilometer Istiklal Road, a historic route used during the war to transport weapons from the Black Sea port of Inebolu into Anatolia. A major running event took place on October 29 on the Osmangazi Bridge, spanning the Gulf of Izmit. Organized by Kocaeli Municipality, the event attracted nearly 8,000 applications and participants from 19 countries, featuring both a 10-kilometer elite race and a 5-kilometer public run. The Turkish Naval Forces participated in the anniversary observances by visiting 29 ports with 29 vessels, which were subsequently opened to public visits. Concerts by the Mehteran, the traditional Ottoman military band, and other military music units were held in the capital.