Speech delivered by
H.E. Mrs. Berin M. Tulun, Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey
on the occasion of the
95th Anniversary of the Proclamation of the Republic of Turkey








(Windhoek, 29 October 2018)

We are celebrating the 95^th Anniversary of the Proclamation of the Republic of Turkey. I thank you all for attending our reception and sharing our pride today.

The Republic of Turkey was founded in 1923 by the Turkish Nation under the able leadership of Ghazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk after the dissolution of the transcontinental Ottoman Empire. Republic of Turkey is a democratic, secular and social state governed by the rule of law.

Turkey is situated at the centre of a challenging geography where historically massive transformations take place. Since its foundation Turkey has guided by the principle of “Peace at Home Peace in the World” set out by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founding father of the Republic.



In today’s world, we understand and appreciate the value and deep meaning of this visionary principle much better.

Turkey pursues an enterprising and humanitarian foreign policy which has a worldwide view. This policy takes concrete initiatives to promote stability and prosperity in its region and beyond based on mutual respect and a win-win approach.

As pursuing multidimensional foreign policy, Turkey for years follows with keen interest the developments in the Africa region. In this regard, Turkey highly values its friendship with Namibia. Namibia is among the African countries close to our heart. Our relations has started during the period of independence struggle.



Starting from the late 1960s, Turkey has tried to do its best for Namibia in the UN context as the only member from the Western Group of the UN Council for South West Africa. Turkey was the co-sponsor to the historic UN General Assembly resolution, which aimed to put an end to the mandate regime. Turkey was the only co-sponsor to this resolution from the Western Group in the UN and was also an active supporter of the ‘UN Fund for Namibia’ and the ‘U.N. Institute for Namibia’. As a very short personal touch I should note that I was the head of section responsible also from Namibia in the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1990 during the independence of Namibia.

After quite a sometime establishing our diplomatic relations, Turkish Embassy in Windhoek was opened in 2012. Turkey has now 41 embassies in Africa. We are waiting to see the Namibian resident Embassy in Ankara along with the 33 Embassies from the African continent. Turkey is a hub in its region and a gateway to other regions. Turkey is also a gateway for Namibia to Turkey’s nearby regions. We have the political will to boost our relations. I am confident that we will expand and diversify our relations in the coming period. I will continue to do my very best in this respect.

Now it is a duty and also an honour for me to read the message of my President, HE Recep Tayyip Erdoğan which is being read in all Embassies of the Republic of Turkey all around the world on this occasion:

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I celebrate the 29 October Republic Day of our citizens who live in our country and abroad, as well as all our friends accompanying us on this day which is source of joy and pride.

At the 95^th anniversary of the proclamation of our Republic, I commemorate all our heroes, in particular Ghazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, leading our victory on the War of Liberation and the foundation of our new state.

I express our gratitude to our Members of Parliament making efforts for the liberation, development, growth and strengthening of our country as the representatives of our national will, since the First Assembly up until now.

I wish Allah’s mercy upon all our ancestors, martyrs and veterans shedding blood and making great efforts for every inch of the Anatolian territory, our millennial motherland.

The sacred memory of the members of our security forces and citizens who lost their lives during the fight against terrorism and on July 15^th

will forever remain in our nation’s heart and maintain their place in the identity of our state.

I see each step we have taken towards an advanced democracy and a strong economy in our efforts to carry our country “beyond the level of contemporary civilizations” as a light kindled for our glorious future.

Our new airport, which we are inaugurating today in İstanbul, is one of these lights.

Inshallah, we will crown our great and everlasting journey, starting from Seljuk Empire to Ottoman Empire and reaching the young Republic of Turkey, with our 2023 goals and carry it to a higher level with our visions for 2053 and 2071.

Each progress starting from our victory in Manzikert and continuing with the other ones in Çanakkale, Kut’ul Amare, Dumlupınar and Cyprus during the last century and our humanitarian stance in Syria is the symbol of the noble stance of our nation.

Each success of Turkey also nurtures, boosts and catalyses the hopes in the hearts of the oppressed and victims in our region and all over the world, as well as in the common conscience of mankind.

For this reason, our country ranks first in humanitarian assistance relative to its national income, although it is the world’s 17^th

biggest economy.

While everyone closed their doors and hearts to asylum seekers, Turkey heartily welcomed them, being the only country that rightly fulfils its humanitarian responsibilities.

It is quite an honour for us to make history as a nation that shares its home and bread with the oppressed, instead of turning its back on them, and always makes its choices in favour of equity and justice.

We will make no concessions to our stance, and never allow any obstacle, sabotage or design prevent us from reaching our goals.

We will continue working with all our strength for the Republic of Turkey to stand forever, as we reach the 95^th

anniversary of its foundation.

With these thoughts, I celebrate once again our 29 October Republic Day.

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With your permission, I want to address in Turkish to our dear citizens.

Cumhuriyetimizin kuruluşunun 95. Yıldönümünü bugün mutlulukla ve kıvançla kutluyoruz. Bu en büyük ulusal bayramımızda bizimle birlikte olduğunuz için teşekkür ediyorum. Cumhuriyet Bayramınızı en içten dileklerimle kutluyor, sizleri saygıyla selamlıyorum.

I would like to express my best wishes for the bright future of friendly relations between our countries, and for the health and well-beings of H.E. Dr. Hage Gottfried

Geingob, President of the Republic of Namibia and H.E. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, President of the Republic of Turkey.

I thank you all for kind attention. Thank you very much.