* Photos: İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality & AA/Murat Kula, Emin Sansar, Archive
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It has been 96 years since the Republic of Turkey was founded in 1923 with the motto "Sovereignty rests unconditionally with the nation."
Accordingly, October 29 Republic Day of Turkey has been celebrated across the country with different ceremonies and events:
Ankara
Led by President and ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, senior state officials have visited the Mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk in the capital city of Ankara on the occasion of October 29 Republic Day of Turkey. The Mausoleum has been opened to the visit of people after the official ceremony.
Later in the day, President Erdoğan has received official greetings at the Beştepe Nation's Congress and Cultural Center of the Presidency.
Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Chair Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu and İYİ Party Chair Meral Akşener have also attended the official ceremony at the Mausoleum.
İstanbul
An official parade has been held along the Vatan Avenue in İstanbul on the occasion of Republic Day. The ceremony here has been attended by Governor of İstanbul Ali Yerlikaya, 1st Army Commander Musa Avsever, İstanbul Metropolitan Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and İstanbul Provincial Security Director Mustafa Çalışkan.
Celebrations began at Sultanahmet yesterday evening
The celebrations in İstanbul started with the ceremony at Sultanahmet Square last evening. Organized by the Metropolitan Municipality of İstanbul, the ceremony started with the concert of Şevval Sam.
"If I can take the stage and sing as a woman, I owe this to Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. Mayor Ekrem [İmamoğlu] has set out on a tough journey. We should all take the bull by the horns and help him", Sam said during her concert.
Taking the stage after Sam, a group of artists from İstanbul City Theaters performed the Republic Oratorio. The Epic of the War of Independence by poet Nazım Hikmet and the speech early Republican writer Halide Edip Adıvar held at Sultanahmet Square on May 23, 1919 were also performed.
'The love for freedom and independence...'
After these performances, İstanbul Metropolitan Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and his wife Dilek İmamoğlu took the stage.
Holding a speech there, Mayor İmamoğlu said, "Those who fill Sultanahmet Square with love for freedom and independence... Those who give us hope with their joy, energy and excitement... Young people of all ages who illuminate the night and the future... Lovers of the Republic... İstanbulites who have filled this square, coming from all parts of the most important city of the world. Welcome, welcome you all..."
The celebrations at Sultanahmet Square ended with the concerts of pianist Fahir Atakoğlu and Athena music band.
İzmir
The Republic Day has been celebrated with a ceremony at Republic Munument in Turkey's Aegean province of İzmir. The official ceremony has been attended by İzmir Governor Ayyıldız, Aegean Army Commander Lietunant General Ali Sivri and İzmir Metropolitan Mayor Tunç Soyer.
Folk dances have been performed, poems marking the Republic Day have been read out. The ceremony has ended with a parade. (AÖ/SD)
