Pakistan felicitates Turkey on 98th Republic Day

We continue to transform our long-standing ties into a strategic partnership, says PM Imran

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday felicitated Turkey on its 98th Republic Day, saying the "brotherly countries Pakistan and Turkey continue to transform long-standing ties into a strategic partnership".

On October 29, 1923, Ataturk officially declared the name of the nation and proclaimed the country's status as a republic.

A vote then took place in the Grand National Assembly, and Ataturk, a revolutionary statesman, was elected the first president of the Republic of Turkey by unanimous vote.

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Since then, Turkey celebrates Republic Day on October 29 annually.

"Warm felicitations to brotherly gov[ernmen]t & ppl (people) of Turkey on 98th Republic Day," the premier wrote on his official Twitter handle.

Warm felicitations to brotherly govt & ppl of Turkey on 98th Republic Day. Bonds b/w our two ppls were forged centuries ago. Firmly anchored in common faith, shared history & culture, we continue to transform our long-standing ties into strategic partnership
Long live🇵🇰🇹🇷 Dosti

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) October 29, 2021

The prime minister said that the bonds between the two peoples were forged centuries ago. "Firmly anchored in common faith, shared history & culture, we continue to transform our long-standing ties into [a] strategic partnership," he added.

In Turkey, celebrations in marking the occasion started on Friday with state officials' visit to Anitkabir, the mausoleum of the country's founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, in the capital Ankara.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who visited Anitkabir to mark the Republic Day, stressed determination to achieve the 2023 goals, when the republic is due to celebrate its centenary.

“As members of a heroic nation with a glorious past full of victories, we are determined to meet the republic with its 2023 goals,” Erdogan wrote in the Anitkabir memorial book.

The president also accepted greetings at the presidential complex.

The Republic Day is being celebrated across Turkey, its representations abroad, and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

The government ceremony in Ankara will be accompanied by various events including concerts, marches and fireworks across the country.

Foreign ministers, diplomats and international organisations congratulated Turkey on Republic Day.

The foreign ministry of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus marked the day on Twitter, sharing a photo.

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Jeyhun Bayramov, Azerbaijani foreign minister, shared a post on Twitter to congratulate Turkey on the anniversary of the republic.

"We remember with deep respect all our martyrs who died in the struggle for independence," he wrote.

Also marking the day, Hungary's Ambassador to Turkey Viktor Matis wished, "May the Turkish-Hungarian friendship always last!"

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken congratulated the Turkish people on the occasion.

Calling Turkey "an important Nato Ally and partner of the US," he stated that longstanding ties between the two countries is built upon strong cooperation in the fields of trade, diplomacy and security.

"We send best wishes as you celebrate this special occasion and look forward to expanding our partnership in the years to come," Blinken said in a written statement.

Marking the Republic Day on Twitter, the Spanish Embassy in Turkey said that the two countries continue working together to strengthen ties and improve the lives of citizens of Turkey and Spain.

Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics conveyed "congratulations to our Turkish allies and my good friend and colleague Mevlut Cavusoglu celebrating Republic Day," mentioning the Turkish foreign minister on Twitter.

"Today marks the 98th anniversary of the #RepublicDay of our strategic partner. I would like to extend my warmest congratulations and wholeheartedly wish success and prosperity to the friendly people of Turkey," Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani said on Twitter.

Norway's Ambassador to Turkey Erling Skjonsberg also took to Twitter to extend his congratulations.

Meanwhile, Nato said on Twitter, posting a photo of a Turkish soldier: "Retweet to join us in celebrating our Ally #Turkey on Republic Day."

With additional input from Anadolu Agency