Recent Document: The Speech of the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Ali Tuygan, Delivered in the Ceremony for Commemorating Martyrs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Other Public Institutions as well as their Families (17 March, 2006)

Tomorrow is 18th of March, the Martyrs Day. Within this context, commemorative ceremonies are organized. Here, today, we are gathered in order to commemorate the members of our Ministry, assassinated while representing our state abroad, other public officials and their families. We clamp our hearts for the 18 March Martyrs Day at the same time.

18th of March is a very special date for our nation. It is the symbol of the struggle of existence and revival of the Turk. The Gallipoli resistance under the leadership of Great Atatürk revived the national pride and consciousness and became the indicator of our success from the trial with fire. The choice of this day, which symbolizes our rebirth from lost lives, heroism and hope with full magnificence, as the Martyrs Day is meaningful.

By the way, I respectfully bend in front of the memory of all martyrs who perceived freedom more important than their lives, who sacrificed themselves for the survival and freedom of these lands and who established the love of nation and flag to our hearts once more with their last breaths.

Distinguished families of our beloved martyrs,
Distinguished Colleagues,

Since 1973, 39 people were martyred as a result of the attacks against our representatives in foreign countries and their families by Armenian terrorist organizations, 17 November militants and other terrorist organizations.

Today, once more, we feel the sorrow of our martyrs who had assassinated while serving for their country with honor and each of whom are of great value for us. They have an unfading memory in our hearts. The names of martyrs of the Foreign Ministry, who perceived the love of their country and their responsibility more important than their life, lives and will live in all the corners of our Ministry.

We continue to work for our country together with new generations, who are walking on the way of our martyrs with hope and determination. We are working for the ideal of placing love in the place of hatred and peace in the place of violence.            

Turkish nation is sincere in its faith in peace and the efforts on this way. However, our efforts for peace should not be left unanswered.

Within this context, I want to mention that the historical offer of our country, which was proposed last year to Armenia, is still valid. We should struggle together against all negative factors contributing to the feeling of hatred, in order to establish friendship between our peoples.

Distinguished families of our beloved martyrs,
Distinguished Colleagues,

We gave more than 200.000 martyrs in Gallipoli; we lost one generation there for our country. From the succeeding generations came many heroes. They also served this country and flag loyally. They served throughout our country as well as abroad. Some achieved martyrdom. They turned over the flag of truth, diligence and love of country to their children, brothers, sisters, to us.

Dear Colleagues,

We know that we are preserving the memories of each of our martyrs in our hearts. However, the real way to deserve their sacrifices is to work always with an infinite self-sacrifice and to make this effort the priority of our life in this period in which we are passing through a fire circle. Nobody wants us to die, however, we have to work to death. In every morning, when we start work we have to think how we can work in a more productive way. In every evening, when we turn the lights off we have to answer the question of what we have done today for the welfare of our country in a way that we can sleep comfortably.

Membership to the family of Foreign Ministry is a life-style more than having an occupation and sacrificial working is its basic element. From the youngest to the oldest our common denominator is this. We can only make our martyrs rest in peace by this way.

We are commemorating all our martyrs who lost their life for preserving our country and independence for centuries once more with respect and gratitude. I wish God’s mercy and grace for our martyrs and patience for their sorrowful families. May they rest in peace.