SOLOTÜRK, the air aerobatic team affiliated with the Turkish Air Force 3rd Main Jet Base Command, will make a demonstration flight in the skies of Istanbul as part of the celebrations of the 573rd anniversary of the conquest of Istanbul. SOLOTURK pilots, who are among the best pilots in the world, will give citizens unforgettable moments. As part of the celebrations, SOLOTURK will first take off from Yenikapı Square at 16:30 today and make an environmental familiarization flight. SOLOTURK will perform a Bosphorus greeting flight at 16:45. SOLOTURK will perform a demonstration flight at Yenikapı Square tomorrow at 18:00.

SOLOTÜRK, which has performed innumerable shows at home and abroad, will give citizens unforgettable moments. The pilots of SOLOTÜRK, which has its own patented reverse take-off, SOLOTÜRK tone, slow flight and cobra maneuver in the history of world aviation, are among the best pilots in the world. SOLOTÜRK Branch Commander Pilot Lieutenant Colonel Murat Bakıcı and Air Pilot Major M. Erhan Aydemir are preparing to bring together citizens with breathtaking shows in Yenikapı Square.

Minister of National Defense Yaşar Güler met with the Mehmetçiks at the Arda Border Company Center serving on the Greek border under the 9th Border Brigade Command stationed in Edirne on the first day of Eid al-Adha. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, whom Güler talked to on the phone, addressed the Border Eagles and said:

Dear members of our Turkish Armed Forces, heroic Mehmetçik of our heroic army, I greet you with my most heartfelt feelings and affection. I congratulate the blessed Eid al-Adha to all our soldiers and their precious families, who are the source of pride of our nation. I wholeheartedly congratulate you on the Eid of all members of our Prophet’s corps, who serve in our country, our region and in different parts of the world, and who work day and night for this country that we hold dear to our hearts.

‘WE ARE THE COUNTRY THAT PRODUCES CONFIDENCE AND STABILITY’

Dear Mehmetçik, the wars, crises and conflicts that have occurred recently reveal the importance of border security without leaving any room for doubt. Especially in recent months, it has become very clear what problems countries that are late and inadequate in protecting their borders are struggling with. Thank God, we are a country that produces trust and stability in our region and in the world in terms of ensuring both border security and the safety of our land, air and sea areas. We showed this quality to the whole world once again in the EFES-2026 Exercise, which we carried out with the participation of friendly, brother and allied personnel from 50 different countries. You successfully eliminate our borders from all kinds of threats and dangers, and you fulfill your duty devotedly even on holidays.

In the new period that started with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s election victory on May 28, 2023, Türkiye has made remarkable moves in many strategic areas, from defense to energy, from foreign policy to industry. The meeting of the National Combat Aircraft KAAN with the sky, the supply of Black Sea gas to the system, the increase in oil production in Gabar and the record rise in defense industry exports were the most concrete examples of the “Turkey Century” vision reflected on the field. In the last three years, Türkiye has left behind critical thresholds to become a stronger, more effective and more independent actor not only in its region but also on a global scale.

THE DEFENSE INDUSTRY HAS BEEN FIRED: Under the leadership of President Erdoğan, Türkiye has managed to reduce the localization rates in the defense industry from 10 percent to 90 percent. After the elections of May 28, 2023, critical projects were implemented one by one. Türkiye’s first domestic warplane, KAAN, successfully made its first flight on February 21, 2024. In this first test flight, the plane stayed in the air for 13 minutes, reaching an altitude of 8,000 feet and a speed of 230 knots. Bayraktar KIZILELMA made its first flight with ammunition in September 2025. Steel Dome was put into operation.

CRITICAL STEPS IN ENERGY: Transition to Nuclear Energy accelerated after the election. The commissioning processes of the units at Mersin Akkuyu NPP, Türkiye’s first nuclear power plant, were accelerated and nuclear technology began to be integrated into the national grid. Critical steps were taken in national supply security by commissioning natural gas discoveries in the Black Sea and increasing underground storage capacities. More than 100 thousand tons of oil was produced daily in Gabar.

CITY HOSPITALS WERE OPENED ONE BY ONE: The stability provided by Erdoğan’s strong leadership was also reflected in health policies. Izmir Bayraklı City Hospital, Gaziantep City Hospital, Kocaeli City Hospital, Kütahya City Hospital, Antalya City Hospital and Aydın City Hospital opened their doors for service.

PLAYMAKER FOREIGN POLICY: The stability that followed the elections was also reflected in foreign policy. Türkiye showed the strongest stance against the ongoing systematic Zionist genocide in Gaza. The civil war in Syria, which lasted more than 14 years, ended in favor of Türkiye, thanks to Erdogan’s strategic diplomacy.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made statements regarding the agenda after the Eid prayer at the Büyük Çamlıca Mosque. Erdoğan briefly said:

HOLIDAYS ARE DAYS OF SOLIDARITY: First of all, holidays are days of love, respect, unity, solidarity and solidarity. And Eid al-Adha is one of them. Of course, Eid al-Adha has a privilege. Eid al-Adha is also a holiday of surrender. In this submission, we see the submission of father and son to each other. And with this surrender we see the sacrifice. Sacrifice is a rapprochement. Sacrifice is a manifestation of this rapprochement. And all Muslims came together in Arafat. We saw this rapprochement there. We saw this surrender there. We saw this unity and solidarity there. And now, as you know, the return from pilgrimage begins. May God accept the pilgrimage of all our brothers and sisters who went on pilgrimage. May God grant the unity and solidarity there to all Muslims.

WHAT HAPPENED IN GAZA IS A SPECIAL FOUNDATION: First of all, we experienced a natural Palestine. We experienced a Gaza. What happened in Palestine and Gaza is a separate stance and a separate foundation for us this holiday. God willing, I believe that this tyrant called Netanyahu will learn the necessary lesson against the Muslims of the world as soon as possible. I hope we will see this stance as soon as possible. Let’s live this stance together. We are waiting for 4 million, 5 million Muslims to experience this firsthand. May God help us. I hope that the Eid-al-Adha world will lead to the unity of Islam. I greet you with respect and love.

‘ISTANBUL BALANCE IS SEPARATE’
After the Eid prayer, President Erdoğan congratulated the citizens and offered bagels to the members of the press. When a journalist said during the refreshment that “Rize bagel has a special place”, Erdoğan responded as follows: “No, Istanbul bagel is different, Ankara bagel is different, Rize bagel is also completely different.”

CONQUEST CELEBRATION AND FESTIVAL ON MAY 29
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will meet with Istanbulites at the Golden Horn on Eid al-Adha. AK Party Istanbul Provincial Chairman Abdullah Özdemir invited all Istanbulites and their families to the “Festival and Conquest Celebration Program from the Conquest of Istanbul to the Conquest of Hearts”, which will be held with the honor of President Erdoğan. The program will be held at the Haliç Congress Center on Friday, May 29. In the program that will be held in the garden of the Haliç Congress Center after the Friday prayer, both the spiritual climate of Eid al-Adha and the enthusiasm of the 573rd anniversary of the Conquest of Istanbul will be experienced together. Within the scope of the program, Azerin concert and mehteran performances will be held.

MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli visited the mausoleum of MHP’s Founding Chairman Alparslan Türkeş in Beştepe after the Eid al-Adha prayer. After recitation of the Holy Quran, Bahçeli left carnations on Türkeş’s grave and poured water on the grave with a copper jug. After the visit, Bahçeli went to the Ülkü Ocakları Education and Culture Foundation, celebrated with the party members, chatted with the foundation representatives and took a souvenir photo. Bahçeli, who also visited the Kızılcahamam Nationalist Martyrs Monument on the occasion of the “Idealist Martyrs’ Memorial Day”, said in his speech there, “Idealists are the unshakable and indomitable travelers of foggy nights.” On the other hand, Bahçeli, in his evaluation to Türkgün Newspaper regarding the ‘absolute nullity’ decision in CHP, said: “Kılıçdaroğlu is the Chairman of CHP. In the process of ‘purification and calm’ in CHP, corruption and irregularities, arrests and other moral issues should be well explained, and a transparent public communication should take place. Our expectation is not a divided CHP, but a united CHP, free from its burdens, serving Turkey and the Turkish nation. District and provincial congresses.” “After this process, the grand congress will be held on a date deemed appropriate. In our opinion, this date could be September 9, which is also the founding date of the party,” he said.

TÜRGEV ​​hosted thousands of visitors with traditional art workshops, cultural events and GRF music concerts at the 8th Ethnosport Culture Festival held at Atatürk Airport. During the four-day festival, the TÜRGEV ​​stand was among the points of great interest in the festival area, especially with the participation of young people and international students. Various cultural and artistic activities for children, young people and families were held at the TÜRGEV ​​stand established within the scope of the festival held on 21-24 May. While the works prepared within the Fine Works Factory (GİF) were presented to the visitors, applied traditional art workshops hosted the visitors throughout the day. Calligraphy, traditional motif works and ethnic painting workshops stood out in the events held in the festival area. In her evaluation after the festival, TÜRGEV ​​Chairman of the Board of Directors, Hatice Akıncı Yılmaz, said, “Ethnosport Culture Festival was a very valuable meeting in terms of young people getting to know their own culture and establishing ties with traditional arts. There was intense interest in our stand for four days.”