Following is the message President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan issued on August 30 Victory Day:

“I celebrate the August 30 Victory Day of our nation.

I remember Ghazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the commander-in-chief of our War of Independence, and all the members of our military who gifted us this victory, with gratitude and respect and wish Allah’s mercy upon our martyrs and veterans.

This last link of the chain of victories achieved in the month of August has obtained its place in history as one of the symbols representing the Turkish nation’s determination to protect its independence and future.

We had already announced in the Battle of Çanakkale, which we waged in our most difficult time against the biggest powers, that our struggle to make Anatolia a homeland to us, which started with the Manzikert, shall never stop.

The August 30 Victory is the embodiment of this determination of ours reviving yet again.

The Turkish nation, on July 15, once again showed the whole world its resolve to protect its independence and future against imperialist desires.

As has been in every period of our history, we are, today as well, putting up a struggle for all the oppressed and wronged who have pinned their hopes on us as well as for ourselves.

This magnanimity is not a weakness of our country, but quite the contrary, its biggest source of power.

Turkey reaching its goals for 2023 will shape the future of our entire region along with that of ours.

Just like the other victories of ours, the August 30 as well indicates that no matter how difficult the conditions are, there is always an open path in front us for success.

The distance our country has covered over the past 16 years has proved it to us that this is possible.

I believe that we are on the threshold of new victories, new successes today as well.

We will definitely win this struggle, too, together with those who trust in Turkey and the Turkish nation.

On this occasion, I once again wish Allah’s mercy upon our martyrs and veterans.

Happy August 30 Victory Day!”