President of the Turkish Grand National Assembly Mustafa Şentop, chaired by the state officials, attended the ceremony held in Anıtkabir on the occasion of the 102nd anniversary of the opening of the Turkish Grand National Assembly and the 23 April National Sovereignty and Children’s Day.

In addition to Şentop, Vice President Fuat Oktay, CHP Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli, IYI Party Chairman Meral Akşener, members of the Presidential Cabinet and deputies attended the ceremony.

Atatürk’s mausoleum by walking from Aslanlı

The delegation, who came to Atatürk’s mausoleum by walking from Aslanlı Yolu, held a moment of silence after the Speaker of the Grand National Assembly Şentop laid a wreath on the mausoleum and sang the Turkish National Anthem.

Şentop, who went to the National Pact Tower after taking a souvenir photo on the Anıtkabir stairs, wrote the following in the Anıtkabir Special Book:

“Dear Atatürk, we are here on the occasion of the 102nd anniversary of the opening of the Turkish Grand National Assembly, which you pioneered and chaired for the first time. As the Commander-in-Chief of the National Struggle, you united our nation around a great resurrection goal and you registered that this heavenly homeland is our eternal homeland for us. With the inspiration we receive, we continue on our way with a consciousness that will never compromise our national sovereignty and full independence, neither today nor in the future.

Supreme Assembly continues to serve our beloved nation today.

In the last hundred years, we have been through a lot as a nation, but the Turkish Grand National Assembly made its will dominant and effective with the power and support it received from our great nation. With this understanding, our Supreme Assembly continues to serve our beloved nation today.

Our supreme Assembly, which has the titles of savior, founder and veteran, unlike any other assembly in the world, will continue to defend democracy, with the support it receives from our nation and the inspiration it receives from the struggle of your person and the valuable deputies of the First Assembly, against internal and external enemies that will attack our democracy. As a matter of fact, during the treacherous coup attempt on July 15, our Supreme Assembly fought with the same spirit and received the title of veteran for the second time.

Grand National Assembly of Turkey

You said 100 years ago, ‘Before the parliament, you need the army, you need money.’ To those who say, ‘First, the parliament, then the army. It is the nation that will make the army and the parliament by proxy.’ By saying this, you put the will of the nation before everything, even under the difficult conditions of that day. Our Assembly, which you built on solid foundations with this motto, also established the army and defeated the enemy. Our Grand National Assembly of Turkey continues to walk on that blessed path you have drawn with the spirit it has had since its foundation, without giving up.

Our Republic, which is your trust, is in safe hands, our nation is determined and determined to fight all kinds of threats against our state as one. On this occasion, I would like to commemorate you and your companions, with whom you fought the National Struggle, and our deputies who have passed on to the hereafter, with mercy and gratitude. Bless your soul.”

Turkey is the first and only country in the world to give a holiday to its children and share this holiday with the whole world.

April 23 National Sovereignty and Children’s Day is celebrated with great enthusiasm with the participation of children from dozens of countries every year.

The great leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk gifted April 23, the opening day of the First Grand National Assembly, to all children of the world.

23 April National Sovereignty and Children’s Day

23 April 1920

The First National Assembly was opened in Ankara.

1921

April 23 began to be celebrated as a National Holiday.

1927

Himaye-i Etfal Society (Child Protection Agency) declared April 23 “Children’s Day”.

April 23 was celebrated as a children’s day for the first time under the auspices of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.

1979

April 23 became international when UNESCO declared 1979 the Year of the Child.

“I will present this holiday to them. I will not be left behind” Mustafa Kemal Atatürk