DEMOCRACY AND MARTYRS’ RALLY

07.08.2016 - AA

Democracy and Martyrs’ Rally was held in Yenikapı Square of İstanbul with the participation of

almost 5 million citizens. The meeting was broadcasted live on public screens in 80 provinces of

Turkey.

President Erdoğan: July

15 showed this country will not fall

"July 15 showed our friends that this country is strong enough to foil not only political, economic

and diplomatic attacks but also military sabotage. It showed that this country would not fall and

would not derail.” President Erdoğan said.

Following are highlights from President Erdoğan’s speech:

On that night, millions of people risked their lives by taking to the squares. Our veterans and

martyrs have written their names in letters of gold to history.

This crowd, this unity today as the President, Prime Minister, Chief of General Staff, Chairmen of

Republican People’s Party and Nationalist Movement Party as well as citizens with various view

s

from across 81 provinces gathered here, distresses the enemies of our country the same way it did

on the morning of July 16. This crowd acts as the proof of the cost those setting an eye on our

homeland will have to bear. This crowd is the proof that Turkey will reach its 2023 goals. From

now on, we will focus on rising above the level of contemporary civilizations."

"The Steps are Clear"

Since sovereignty rests with the nation, if the nation makes demands the reintroduction of capital

punishment, the Turkish Grand National Assembly will decide on it. If the Parliament makes such a

decision, the steps are clear. I declare it advance that I will approve this decision.

"No One Will Succeed in Imposing Captivity on This Nation"

“We should have no fear, since this great nation would never accept captivity and abasement.” the

founding father of our Republic, Gazi Mustafa Kemal, said back in 1920 when the majority of the

country including İstanbul and İzmir provinces was under invasion. Now, 96 years after Gazi

Mustafa

Kemal, I am asking you once again in Yenikapı square. Will you accept captivity and

abasement? No one will ever succeed in imposing captivity on this nation.

You have actually demonstrated that you will never accept captivity by baring you chest to bullets,

lying under tanks and even attempting to stop jets and helicopters that night.

"We Should Evaluate the Powers Behind”

Our state and nation should analyze the coup attempt of July15 very well. We should evaluate not

only those who perpetrated this treachery, but also the powers behind them and the motives that led

to this action. We should discuss in detail all cases in our recent history that disturb our conscience

and raise question marks, and reveal the deficiencies and mistakes. We should review the trials that

paved the way for FETÖ’s effectiveness in Turkish Armed Forces.

We know very well the driving force behind the members of the terrorist organizations. When the

time comes we will settle the account.

July 15 was not just a coup attempt but an attempt by the terrorists dressed in military clothes

taking up a notch the result aimed by the armed activities of PKK and DAESH. This attempt is also

a terrorist act. July 15 is an invasion attempt by the armed forces who betrayed their country and

the nation. We know very well to whom the lands that have belonged to us for more than thousand

years would have been served on a silver platter had the coup been successful."

"The Boundaries of Our Heart is Wide Enough To Encompass Every Region"

The physical boundaries of the Turkish nation are different than that of its boundaries of the heart.

Our boundaries of the heart are wide enough to encompass every region and every society that sees

us as a brother and a friend. Hopefully the period that follows will be a period of happiness both for

our people and for all the oppressed people of the world."

"The Future Will Not Be As They Expected"

I would like to thank the Turkish people living abroad who had their hearts go out to Turkey on the

night of July 15. I know that these citizens had really hard days due to the harassment of the

Western media and their negative publications. Take Germany for example. I was to address the

rally via video conference but they did not allow it. They allowed, however, PKK militants to

broadcast by video conference. Where is the democracy? No matter what happens the future will

not be as they expected, it will come back to hit them.

The Speeches of The Leaders

The highlights from the speeches of t

he Prime Minister Yıldırım, Turkish Parliamentary Speaker

Kahraman and leaders of the opposition parties are as follows:

Turkish Parliamentary Speaker Kahraman: We are here to show solidarity, that we are united as

one nation, state and homeland under one flag, and to declare that we have now buried coups in

history. We have gone through a massive calamity. We opposed the maligning forces trying to

create trouble among the public and we won.

Prime Minister Yıldırım: The

nation, who wrote history at Çanakkale and the War of

Independence, with the same spirit, wrote history on July 15. The July 15

coup attempt is Turkey’s

second War of Independence. Thank God and thanks to our martyrs lying honourably under the

ground, today we are living on this land united as one, and with our honour, independence and

solidarity intact.

CHP Party Leader Kılıçdaroğlu: The

July 15 coup attempt has opened up a new door of

compromise. Post July 15, there is now a new Turkey. If we can carry this power and the culture of

reconciliation even further, we will leave a better Turkey for our children.

MHP Party Leader Bahçeli: The Turkish nation despite the conspiracies stood tall and taught a

lesson to the traitors of the July 15 coup attempt. I am happy as I watch Turkey beaming with pride.

I am happy because there is people here, there is faith here and there is will here. The nation who

could not be defeated or made to bow down and the invincible national strength are here in this

square.