| | | | August 30 marks the day Turkish troops, under Mustafa Kemal entered the western Aegean city of Smyrna, modern day Izmir, after the final defeat of the Greek forces in 1922.
The day, which also serves to commemorate the Turkish Armed Forces will begin with a ceremony at the tomb of Mustafa Kemal, who later founded the modern Turkish Republic and assumed the title Atatürk - Father of the Turks.
The Chief of the Turkish General Staff, General Hilmi Özkok, will lay a wreath at mausoleum and observe a minute of silence out of respect to Ataturk and his brothers in arm. The commanders of land, air, naval and gendarmerie forces will also attend the ceremony.
Later in the day, President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Parliamentary Speaker Bülent Arnç, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoan and General Özkok will watch the ceremonies to be held at Ankara’s Atatürk Culture Centre
The day’s ceremonies will end with a reception to be hosted by General Özkok to mark the August 30 Victory and Turkish Armed Forces Day. | |
