Commemoration of Atatürk Day on November 10 in Bitlis

A commemoration program was held in Bitlis on November 10th for the Commemoration of Atatürk Day. The program started with the laying of a wreath at the Atatürk statue in Cumhuriyet Square, followed by a moment of silence and the reading of the National Anthem at 09:05. The protocol members then moved to the Bitlis Cultural Center, where they watched a slide show about Atatürk’s life. After speeches made by teachers and students highlighting the significance of the day and the recitation of poems, an oratory performance was presented.

In his speech, Bitlis Governor Ahmet Karakaya stated, “Many heroes have emerged throughout history. How fortunate we are to be among the nations that have produced the most heroes. Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, born in 1881, took on the historical responsibility of a great nation at the age of just 38. On May 19, 1919, he arrived in Samsun and, through consultations held in Amasya, Sivas, and Erzurum, the nation decided to stand up and respond to the imperialist pawns with our hearts and hands, despite limited resources. In this context, Atatürk is a great hero and a significant military figure alongside our people. Indeed, we will elevate the republic established by Atatürk to the level of contemporary civilizations by working harder and producing more, in line with our national and spiritual values. When you achieve this, you will see that not only the 86 million citizens of the Republic of Turkey but all oppressed nations will find the strength to rise. We will continue to work with all our might for the Republic left to us by Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk to reach contemporary civilizations and to remain eternal. We will love each other more, see our differences as wealth, and hopefully, in the second century of our republic, we will succeed in further elevating our country and our flag in every field, including science, art, culture, and technology.”

After the speeches, the program concluded with the oratory performance and the rendition of Atatürk’s favorite songs prepared by the students of the Department of Fine Arts, following the poems recited by teachers and students.

The ceremony was attended by Bitlis Governor Ahmet Karakaya, the Chief of Staff of the Education and Doctrine Command (EDOK) Major General Mücahit Zorlutuna, Mayor Nesrullah Tanğlay, Chief Public Prosecutor Emre Genç, Rector of Bitlis Eren University Prof. Dr. Necmettin Elmastaş, department heads, and representatives of civil society organizations.