ON THE OCCASION OF THE 97th ANNIVERSARY OF THE LAUSANNE PEACE TREATY, NGOs CAME TOGETHER IN ANKARA

ON THE OCCASION OF THE 97th ANNIVERSARY OF THE LAUSANNE PEACE TREATY, NGOs CAME TOGETHER IN ANKARA

With an invitation from the ADD (Atatürkist Ideology Association) Headquarters, Anıtkabir (Atatürk’s Mausoleum) was visited and two representatives from each of the following establishments were among the visitors: The Bar of Istanbul, the Bar of Ankara, the Legal Institution of Turkey, Ankara City Council, the Education-Business Union, Ankara Chamber of Architects, Ankara Chamber of Pharmacists and Ankara Chamber of Veterinarians. 

Vice President Lale Pilatin and Executive Committee Member Adv. Sedat Durna visited the Mausoleum on behalf of ÇYDD.

At the entrance of Anıtkabir the security officials notified the visitors that on that day the premises were closed.  The visiting committee and the citizens present resisted this enforcement and the visiting committee announced that on the 97th of the Lausanne Peace Treaty it was unacceptable for the mausoleum to be closed and that they would wait until the door was opened. As more and more people gathered, CHP (Republic People’s Party) Group Vice-Head Özgür Özel spoke with the authorities and had the place opened for visitors.

The visiting committee observed a moment of silence in front of the mausoleum and then visited the tomb of the second President of Turkey Ismet Inönü.

After the Anıtkabir visit, Özden Toker, the daughter of Inönü, welcomed the NGO executives and the bar members at the Pembe Köşk museum. The meaning and the importance of the day were recounted and the group agreed to meet next year again at the traditional Heybeliada Lausanne Treaty Celebrations.

We denounce the attempt by the governmental powers to use cleaning or repairs as pretext to keep Anıtkabir closed on the anniversary of the founding treaty of the Republic of Turkey.

We found out only a day ahead of time that the press releases of our branches to be distributed on the anniversary of the Lausanne Peace Treaty were banned with unreasonable and unlawful justifications. The Lausanne Treaty is the common pride, assurance and valueof our nation. In a state of law such an act requires that an intelligible explanation is provided or that the people in charge should expect reproach. Public administration cannot be arbitrary!

We must not forget that responsible citizenship requires comprehension of history. Today we owe the freedoms ofact, speech and worship to the fight for independence of Great Atatürk and his comrades in arms that gave us the Lausanne success.  There is no power that can take us offour chosen path or wipe out our consciousness!