Politics
Cyprus split, Turks united on anniversary of peace operation
The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) on Sunday marked the anniversary of the July 20, 1974 Cyprus Peace Operation by Türkiye, a turning point in the history of the Mediterranean island, which is divided between Greek and Turkish Cypriots.
The operation was a display of Türkiye’s unwavering support for the community whose future state is fully recognized only by Ankara. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was scheduled to fly to the TRNC to attend ceremonies marking the anniversary.
The operation helped Turkish Cypriots stave off a grim future and paved the way for the establishment of their state in its current form. Fifty-one years on, the operation is an occasion celebrated through military parades and ceremonies and dedicated to those who died in atrocities committed by Greek Cypriot gangs.
Along with attending anniversary ceremonies, Erdoğan is expected to showcase Türkiye’s concrete steps to support the TRNC, including a groundbreaking ceremony for a new hospital supported by the Turkish Ministry of Health and the inauguration of new roads in the city.
The anniversary comes a few days after TRNC President Ersin Tatar and Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides met in New York at U.N. headquarters for informal talks on the future of the divided island. They were accompanied by U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and representatives of the guarantor powers, Türkiye, Greece and the United Kingdom. Talks, held for the second time this year, did not yield any concrete results, but the two sides agreed on confidence-building measures.
Greek Cypriots advocate for the reunification of the island with a bi-communal administrative system, while the TRNC insists on a two-state solution where it will be recognized as a sovereign state.
In the second half of the 20th century, Cyprus was the scene of Greek efforts to erase Turkish Cypriot existence on the island. Fearing a Greek Cypriot plot to unite with Greece, which would ultimately put Turkish Cypriots under the control of Greek Cypriot dominance, Türkiye launched the Cyprus Peace Operation in the summer of 1974.
Cyprus was once an Ottoman island before it was handed over to a British mandate in 1923. Greek Cypriots, encouraged by the Greek uprising against Ottoman rule in 1821, have long aspired for reunification with Greece. In 1955, they took the first steps to achieve this by the establishment of the terrorist group EOKA. EOKA’s campaign of violence targeted Turkish Cypriots, as well as Greek Cypriots opposing their goal of reunification. Turkish Cypriots took up arms in 1958, establishing a resistance organization known as the Turkish Resistance Organization (TMT). Rising tensions on the island appeared to die down in 1960 with the establishment of the Republic of Cyprus. Yet, three years later, Greek Cypriots moved to amend the constitution to deprive Turkish Cypriots of their rights. Armed attacks against the Turkish Cypriot community exacerbated tensions again, effectively putting an end to the bi-national republic. Assaults on Turkish Cypriots in 1963 evolved into an all-out attack by Greek Cypriot forces on Erenköy, a line of resistance by Turkish Cypriots, in 1964. The civilian population was bombed by Greek warplanes, prompting Türkiye to launch a limited air offensive to stave off Greek attacks.
Ten years later, Türkiye took the initiative for a lasting solution to attacks targeting Turkish Cypriots and launched the Cyprus Peace Operation. The operation led to a cease-fire two days later, but ongoing hostilities prompted Türkiye to launch the second stage of the operation on Aug. 14, 1974. The operations cost the lives of 498 Turkish soldiers and 786 Turkish Cypriot “mücahits,” members of paramilitary groups resisting Greek Cypriot attacks. The operation ensured a cessation of attacks by Greek Cypriots, and one year later, Turkish Cypriots declared the Turkish Federated State of Cyprus, under the leadership of Rauf Denktaş, a co-founder of TMT. The state renamed the TRNC in 1983.
The TRNC, however, faced major setbacks as it was not recognized globally and faced economic and political embargoes. It also sought to reconcile with Greek Cypriots, and the two sides agreed upon a series of talks in the early 2000s. Yet, after the Greek Cypriot administration was admitted to the European Union in 2004, efforts collapsed. The last round of concrete talks to end the division failed in 2017.
Under the leadership of President Erdoğan, Türkiye continues to implement policies that provide full support to Turkish Cypriots, although at times it has fallen out with Turkish Cypriot administrations, which have warmed up to the idea of a bi-communal federation. Under Tatar, who came to power in 2020, the TRNC realigned with Ankara and adopted a no-concession policy in talks over the island’s status.
The TRNC will continue to build its future, Tatar said on Friday after the informal talks in New York, underlining that “there are two states” on the Eastern Mediterranean island.
“The existence of these two states has been a reality for 62 years. A solution based on the sovereignty of both peoples in Cyprus is possible,” Tatar told reporters. Tatar said progress could be achieved in Cyprus “through cooperation between the two separate states. We are not avoiding dialogue, but we insist on sovereign equality.”
He noted that the informal meeting did not constitute official negotiations, nor did it indicate a move in that direction, adding that their presence in New York was for cooperation, rather than formal talks. Tatar criticized the EU for appointing a special envoy on Cyprus without consulting the Turkish Cypriot side. He said the bloc holds a biased stance and reaffirmed that Turkish Cypriots would only accept EU involvement if their sovereignty is recognized. “Otherwise, such representation is unacceptable,” he said.
He added that they had met their obligations regarding matters related to the cooperation agreed upon in Geneva (during a meeting last March) and New York with the Greek Cypriot administration, but said no consensus was reached on opening new border crossings due to the Greek Cypriot side’s stance.
Tatar described the Greek Cypriot side’s legal actions against individuals investing in properties in the TRNC as a violation of international law and human rights, calling it an attack that is incompatible with goodwill. He also emphasized that all negotiation processes were being conducted in consultation with Türkiye. Since last year, the Greek Cypriot administration has been pursuing legal action and arrests targeting individuals who purchased property in the TRNC. TRNC officials argue that the true aim behind these actions is to undermine the construction sector and the broader economy. On Sunday, four individuals identified as citizens of the Greek Cypriot administration were detained by police while conducting land surveys and assessments in the TRNC, according to security sources. The suspects were caught by security forces near the town of Iskele while surveying land, police sources said. The suspects were allegedly collecting documents and conducting assessments as part of the Greek Cypriot administration’s ongoing efforts to identify and prosecute those acquiring property in the TRNC. The four detainees are expected to appear in court, while authorities investigate their possible ties to the Greek Cypriot administration’s intelligence agency and determine who may have directed their actions.
Taking root
Today, the peace operation is a source of pride for Turkish Cypriots, while Greek Cypriots mark the same day as a day of mourning for those killed in clashes with Turkish and Turkish Cypriot forces. Greek Cypriot President Christoulides said in a ceremony on Sunday that they would “never yield an inch of land,” while he described the ceremonies in the TRNC as “shameful.”
TRNC Parliament Speaker Ziya Öztürkler said that Greek Cypriots never gave up the idea of annexation with Greece and through the Peace Operation, Turkish Cypriots started taking root in the island. The day is officially known as July 20 Peace and Freedom Day in the TRNC. Öztürkler told Anadolu Agency (AA) on Sunday that the TRNC has made significant progress since the operation, particularly in establishing institutions for infrastructure, education and health care, as well as in “standing for our lands.”
“The flags of the TRNC and the mainland Republic of Türkiye will fly together forever here,” Öztürkler said.
The speaker noted that, thanks to the efforts of Erdoğan, Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz and Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş, the TRNC had raised its profile internationally and particularly enhanced relations with the Turkic states.
“The peace operation means independence and freedom for Turkish Cypriots. This is the anniversary of a day where Turkish Cypriots built a freedom epic together with their homeland, Türkiye,” he said. Öztürkler said they fondly remembered the Turkish politicians behind the operation, including then-Prime Minister Bülent Ecevit and Deputy Prime Minister Necmettin Erbakan.
Before his flight to the TRNC, President Erdoğan issued a message on his social media account to celebrate the anniversary and said he wholeheartedly congratulated the Turkish Cypriot people.
“On the 51st anniversary of the Cyprus Peace Operation, I remember with respect our martyrs who gave their lives for the Turkish Cypriot people’s struggle for existence, and I offer my gratitude to our heroic veterans,” Erdoğan said.
One of those veterans is a 75-year-old Cuma Erdem. Erdem was a conscript in the southern Turkish province of Kahramanmaraş when he was deployed to Cyprus for both stages of the operation. He and others boarded a passenger ship to reach the island in the 1974 summer. The ship was among 33 others carrying Turkish troops and came under Greek Cypriot fire when they approached the coast. Erdem and fellow troops crossed the Beşparmak mountains to reach Lefkoşa, with sporadic clashes with Greek Cypriot forces. Along the way, he witnessed fellow troops mowed down by gunfire, and his unit persisted in its march. “On the other side, Greek Cypriot troops started running when we advanced further,” he told AA on Sunday. “We came across Greek Cypriot soldiers tied to their machine guns by their commanders so that they would not flee,” he recounted.
In the second operation, Erdem says he witnessed the aftermath of atrocities committed by Greek Cypriots. He recalls raids by Greek Cypriots on Turkish Cypriot villages, Muratağa, Sandallar and Atlılar. “We heard that they were indiscriminately killing people in an execution style. In one village, we discovered a fresh trail of blood and followed it. We found half-buried bodies of martyrs there. I still remember those moments,” Erdem said.
Cevdet Kürtdur was deployed in a tank unit during the operation. He survived attacks by Greek Cypriots but still bears their scars, including a partial hearing loss. Kürtdur, who was injured when gunfire hit his tank, says he was “honored” to be a veteran. “If they call me again (for deployment), I would go,” he proudly says.
Hasan Aslan, a Turkish army veteran, experiences a mix of joy and grief while remembering the peace operation. Seventy-one-year-old Aslan was among 128 soldiers taking on a well-armed Greek Cypriot regiment. “When the dawn broke on July 20, Turkish reconnaissance planes hovered above us, and then came a barrage of bullets. At one point, we ran out of ammo, and then, paratroopers came to our aid,” Aslan told AA.
One of those paratroopers who landed in the spot he was deployed turned out to be a compatriot. “Bullets were grazing us, but I remember hugging him when I found out that he was from a village neighboring mine in Türkiye. I asked him about the situation in Türkiye, and he told me that people were mobilized and donating to the Turkish army.”
“I am happy to make a small contribution to Cyprus. We showed the world that Turkish Cypriots had the right to exist, and eventually, they managed to establish the TRNC,” he said.
Cemil Tugay, the independent mayor of Türkiye’s third-largest province, Izmir, who resigned from the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), will join the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) this week, media outlets reported Sunday. Tugay met President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the Presidential Complex on Sept. 30, fueling rumors about the switch. Tugay and Erdoğan reportedly met to discuss the needs of Izmir, but media outlets said the mayor later met officials at the AK Party’s Izmir branch, leading to further speculation about the switch.
Erdoğan will officially welcome him to the party at the AK Party’s parliamentary group meeting on Oct. 7. Along with Tugay, the mayors of two district municipalities in Izmir are expected to join the AK Party, media reports said. Pro-opposition Sözcü newspaper reported that Tugay canceled all appearances after meeting with Erdoğan and has not returned calls from journalists.
If the switch takes place, it will be the first time the AK Party has taken over a municipality in Izmir, a longstanding CHP stronghold. The CHP is already in tatters after former Chair Özgür Özel founded the New Party (YP) in July, taking dozens of lawmakers from the CHP with him. The YP is now the main opposition party thanks to the sheer number of its lawmakers in Parliament, while several mayors have signaled that they would join the party soon.
The number of mayors elected under the CHP banner who have since joined the AK Party has risen to 44.
The latest switches include the mayors of the Çerkezköy, Çiğli, Elmalı, Şenkaya and Marmara districts, continuing a series of defections from the CHP since the 2024 local elections.
President Erdoğan presented party badges to the nine mayors during the party’s Expanded Provincial Chairs Meeting in Ankara last month and wished them success in their work.
The CHP won 420 municipalities across Türkiye in the 2024 elections. With 44 mayors having since resigned from the party and joined the AK Party, the figure represents roughly one in every 10 mayors elected on the CHP ticket, according to the figures.
Turkish security forces detained 52 irregular migrants in separate operations across four provinces, while four suspected migrant smugglers were arrested, authorities said Monday.
Security forces detained 10 foreign nationals in the northwestern province of Edirne after determining they had entered Türkiye through illegal routes. Another seven irregular migrants were detained in neighboring Kırklareli.
The migrants were transferred to provincial migration authorities and a repatriation center following processing.
In the western province of Izmir, gendarmerie teams stopped a minibus near the Karaburun toll booths on the Çeşme highway on Oct. 1 as part of an operation targeting migrant smuggling.
Authorities found 16 irregular migrants inside the vehicle, including one Nigerian, three Chadian, 10 Ethiopian and two Sudanese nationals.
The minibus driver, identified by the initials B.Y., was detained on suspicion of organizing the journey and was later arrested by a court. The migrants were transferred to migration authorities.
Türkiye, a key transit route for migrants seeking to reach Europe, has stepped up border controls and security operations in recent years as part of its efforts to combat irregular migration and migrant smuggling.
Separately, security forces detained 19 Afghan irregular migrants during a joint coast guard and gendarmerie operation in Demre, in the southern province of Antalya, on Oct. 2.
One suspected Turkish smuggler was detained on land, while two others allegedly linked to the operation were caught aboard a sailboat at sea. All three were later arrested and sent to prison.
Authorities seized the sailboat used in the alleged smuggling operation.
Investigators identified four additional suspects believed to have been involved in the smuggling network, and efforts to apprehend them are continuing, authorities said.
Türkiye has intensified nationwide operations in recent years amid rising regional migration pressures.
New investigations have revealed deep-seated corruption in district municipalities run by the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), which has seen dozens of its mayors jailed in a widespread probe into bribery and tender-rigging over the past two years.
Reports by the Sabah newspaper indicate that a deputy mayor asked a businessman to place a bribe into a vase full of flowers and deliver it to his wife in Mersin’s Mezitli district. In another case, it was discovered that some staff at Istanbul’s Ataşehir Municipality asked for high-value gift cards for shopping at luxury department stores.
In a corruption operation targeting municipalities in Mersin, the bribery network and methods allegedly used at Mezitli Municipality have been exposed. The district’s mayor, Ahmet Serkan Tuncer, was among dozens detained earlier this week in an anti-corruption operation, along with Mersin Mayor Vahap Seçer.
According to the Sabah report, Mezitli’s Deputy Mayor Atilla Küsbeci was meeting with landowners on behalf of Mayor Tuncer. During these meetings, zoning densities were increased and changes were made in favor of those who paid the requested bribes.
The money was allegedly shared among Ahmet Serkan Tuncer, Atilla Küsbeci, CHP Mersin Deputy Provincial Chair Kubilay Özsoy, Serkan Şahin and Hacı Şahin. The case file states that Kubilay Özsoy obtained TL 28 million (around $570,000) in illicit gains through these transactions, converted the bribes into gold and foreign currency and introduced them into the financial system, and purchased land in the name of his father. It also states that Ahmet Serkan Tuncer purchased a home at a residential complex with the money.
It was determined that Atilla Küsbeci and his wife, Merve Küsbeci, who works in the municipality’s zoning department, turned a blind eye to the construction of noncompliant sections at two luxury hotels in the city and failed to act on complaints concerning these violations.
The testimony of Serkan Canıtezer, a representative of Kayalife construction company, shed light on the alleged bribery method. Canıtezer said Mayor Tuncer and Deputy Mayor Atilla Küsbeci demanded a TL 5 million bribe for zoning and construction permit procedures.
“Atilla Küsbeci asked me to put it in a vase together with flowers and leave it at the zoning department where his wife, Merve Küsbeci, worked. However, I refused. I obtained the construction permit, but they demanded two separate renovation projects for the construction in order to receive the bribe. The head of the building inspection department, whom Atilla Küsbeci sent to my construction site, told me that a third renovation project would be required and said, ‘You know the reason. There is nothing I can do; the order comes from higher up,'” he testified.
“I also reported the situation to CIMER (the Presidential Communications Center, a hotline for complaints from the general public). On Aug. 19, 2026, I went to the Anti-Smuggling and Organized Crime Department of the police with TL 100,000 and had the serial numbers recorded. I then informed them that I was ready to hand over the money,” Canıtezer said.
A search of the home of Ali Özbaran, owner of Özbaran Enerji, who was detained in the operation in Mezitli on charges of “rigging a tender,” “bribery” and “qualified fraud,” uncovered 257,000 euros, $25,000, 64,000 pounds, 4 kilograms (8.82 pounds) of gold bars, 116 Republic gold coins, eight half gold coins, five quarter gold coins and 2 grams (0.07055 ounces) of gold, as well as an unlicensed handgun and tender documents.
Meanwhile, the investigation into Ataşehir Municipality by the Istanbul Anadolu Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office was expanded based on examinations of digital materials belonging to suspects arrested on April 20, 2026, statements obtained from suspects under the effective repentance provisions, testimony from witnesses questioned following complaints filed through CIMER and statements by suspects who allegedly paid bribes.
The examination found that some municipal employees had used high-value gift cards from luxury department stores and received money in foreign currencies in exchange for bribes.
The investigation also found, based on examinations of digital materials, that financial benefits were provided to company owners involved in zoning and occupancy permit procedures at Ataşehir Municipality by allegedly having them purchase purportedly “garbage containers.”
Based on the evidence obtained, simultaneous searches, seizures and detention procedures were carried out this week. A total of 13 suspects, including Ataşehir Deputy Mayor Murat Güneş, were apprehended and detained as part of the operation. Numerous digital materials were seized during searches of the suspects’ addresses.
The Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office said in a statement that investigations aimed at combating crimes against the reliability and functioning of public administration would continue meticulously and with determination.
Abdullah Öcalan, the jailed ringleader of the PKK terrorist group, may meet journalists and civil society representatives, a lawmaker who has repeatedly met him in recent months told the media over the weekend.
In statements quoted by the Turkish media on Sunday, Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) lawmaker Pervin Buldan noted that they may see “a concrete development in October” in terms of visitors for Öcalan, who is jailed in a high-security island prison in the Marmara Sea. She was responding to a question about whether Öcalan would be allowed visitors other than his next of kin, lawyers and DEM Party lawmakers, from a party closely associated with the PKK.
The move is part of the terror-free Türkiye initiative launched by government ally Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli in 2024. The initiative sought the dissolution of the PKK after decades of violence across Türkiye and has succeeded to an extent after Öcalan agreed to Bahçeli’s proposal to order the PKK to lay down its arms. The PKK announced its dissolution in 2025, and the process is currently being monitored by Turkish authorities. In return, Türkiye introduced a law in August that offers deferral of sentencing and prosecution for PKK members not involved in acts of violence.
Since Bahçeli’s historic call two years ago, Öcalan has frequently received DEM Party lawmakers who have served as messengers for him, conveying his messages to the PKK and the Turkish public. Öcalan, who was sentenced to life imprisonment after his capture in Kenya in 1999, however, still serves his prison term in strictly isolated conditions with a few fellow inmates. Recently, Bahçeli announced that a new addendum to the prison facility may be built on the island to help Öcalan fulfill his task as an intermediary. Bahçeli has also suggested a formal “coordinator role” for Öcalan. This was also mentioned by Buldan in her interview, and she said that Öcalan would be a “coordinator” both in the disarmament of the PKK and in the “political and democratic building process.”
“For this reason, it is essential that he should be provided with free working and communication conditions and allowed to receive visitors from different segments of society,” Buldan stated.
For decades, the PKK remained the main security threat to Türkiye, and its violent campaign is blamed for the deaths of thousands of people and immense economic losses, especially in southeastern Türkiye. Apart from small nationalist parties, almost all political parties openly supported the initiative, something rare in polarized Turkish politics.
Speaking at the inauguration of the new legislative year at the Turkish Parliament last Thursday, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan hailed a law passed by Parliament on terror-free Türkiye.
“Consensus on a terror-free Türkiye has upset the country’s foes. (Terror-free Türkiye) is already having a deterrent effect on Türkiye’s foes and is empowering the country,” Erdoğan said.
The president also urged other political parties to strengthen the “homefront” amid regional tensions and reach a “grand Türkiye consensus.”
Senior Turkish political figures criticized the opposition New Party (YP) after its lawmakers walked out of Parliament as President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan prepared to address lawmakers at the opening of the new legislative year.
New Party leader Özgür Özel and lawmakers from his party left the General Assembly shortly before Erdoğan began his address Thursday, in what the party described as a protest against the president.
Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli criticized the move, saying it was politically inappropriate for the lawmakers to leave while Erdoğan was in the chamber.
“It was not politically right for New Party (YP) to leave while our president was in the hall,” Bahçeli told reporters at a reception marking the opening of the new legislative year.
Bahçeli, whose MHP is allied with Erdoğan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), said a recently established political party should seek to bring new approaches to politics.
Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş also criticized the walkout, saying political differences and protests were legitimate parts of democratic politics but arguing that lawmakers should observe political courtesy during the annual opening ceremony.
“We would have preferred New Party lawmakers to listen to the president’s speech and not resort to such a course of action,” Kurtulmuş told reporters.
He said lawmakers had extensive opportunities to criticize the president and the executive once regular parliamentary proceedings resumed but described the opening of Parliament as an occasion for political parties to gather under the same roof despite their differences.
The walkout came during the special session opening the fifth legislative year of Parliament’s 28th term. Erdoğan delivered his annual address after Parliament Speaker Kurtulmuş opened the session.
The incident prompted criticism from senior members of the AK Party and officials in the presidential administration.
AK Party spokesperson Ömer Çelik described the decision to leave the chamber before Erdoğan’s speech as disrespectful to Parliament and the presidency.
Çelik noted the president’s address at the beginning of a legislative year was an established part of Türkiye’s parliamentary tradition and accused the YP of contradicting its calls for a stronger Parliament by leaving the chamber.
Presidential Communications Director Burhanettin Duran also criticized the walkout, saying Parliament was a forum where differing political views should be expressed and debated.
Duran described YP lawmakers’ decision to leave the chamber as “a serious act of disrespect,” saying it went beyond a political stance against the presidency and showed disregard for the national will, state traditions and parliamentary conventions.
He said the move was inappropriate for Parliament and argued that democratic politics required not only expressing one’s own views but also tolerating opposing opinions and listening to the elected president in Parliament.
“Putting political disagreements ahead of long-established state traditions and the common rules of Parliament is incompatible with democratic representation.”
AK Party Deputy Chair Hüseyin Yayman also condemned the protest, accusing YP lawmakers of using the parliamentary session for political theater. He said lawmakers had the right to criticize or oppose Erdoğan but should do so through parliamentary debate.
The dispute underscored tensions between Erdoğan’s governing alliance and the YP, which was established in July under Özel’s leadership after he and 90 other lawmakers resigned from the Republican People’s Party (CHP).
The YP has since formed a parliamentary group, with Özel serving as its chair.
Kurtulmuş, responding to questions about opposition criticism more broadly, rejected claims that opposition voices were being prevented from speaking in Parliament.
He said seven parliamentary groups would participate when regular proceedings resume, five of them representing opposition parties.
The Parliament speaker also called on opposition parties to put forward proposals in the debate over a new constitution, saying disagreements over Türkiye’s presidential system and the president’s political party affiliation could be addressed as part of that process.
Despite the walkout, other opposition politicians remained in the chamber during the opening session. Erdoğan later greeted lawmakers from several parties following his address.
Parliament is scheduled to resume its regular legislative work on Oct. 6.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has vowed that anyone found responsible for a deadly mine collapse in the western province of Manisa will be held accountable, as an investigation continues following the deaths of five miners.
Speaking Saturday at Teknofest Southeast in Şanlıurfa, Erdoğan said authorities were pursuing both administrative and criminal investigations into Thursday’s collapse in the Soma district, where five miners were killed and two others were rescued with injuries.
The Energy and Natural Resources Ministry has launched an administrative investigation, while the Soma Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office has opened a judicial inquiry. Nine people, including officials from the company operating the mine, have been taken into custody.
“The investigation is continuing in multiple directions. Anyone found to have been negligent or guilty will certainly be held accountable. We will also follow the process closely,” Erdoğan said.
He offered condolences to the families and colleagues of the five miners who lost their lives and wished a speedy recovery to the two injured workers, who remain under medical treatment.
Erdoğan made the remarks during the opening of Teknofest Southeast at Şanlıurfa GAP Airport, where thousands of visitors gathered to attend the country’s flagship aviation, aerospace and technology festival.
The president praised young participants for their technological achievements, saying their projects demonstrated the progress Türkiye has made in science and innovation.
“Once again, we are proudly witnessing the level Türkiye has reached in technology and the high-quality projects produced by the Teknofest generation,” he said, congratulating young people who displayed their inventions and turned their ideas into reality at the festival.
The atmosphere at the airport, along with the determination, enthusiasm and ambition of the participants, showed that Türkiye’s future was in capable hands, Erdoğan said.
He added that the country’s long-term development vision, known as the “Century of Türkiye,” would carry the imprint of a generation increasingly involved in technological innovation.
“These young people are a source of pride for our nation and among the country’s most valuable assets,” he said, praising their knowledge, confidence and ambition.
Erdoğan also thanked the Industry and Technology Ministry, the Turkish Technology Team Foundation and other organizations involved in organizing the festival, describing Teknofest as the world’s largest aviation, aerospace and technology event.
He said he had personally recommended Şanlıurfa as the host city, arguing that its historical and cultural heritage made it an appropriate setting for an event bringing together technological innovation and young talent.
“Once again, we are experiencing the excitement of Teknofest, an event shaped from beginning to end by young people, and this time we are doing so in Şanlıurfa,” he said.
Erdoğan highlighted the city’s ancient history, describing it as a center of religious heritage, science and civilization. Şanlıurfa is home to Göbeklitepe, an archaeological site widely recognized for its significance in understanding early human history.
He also recalled the contributions of scholars associated with the region, including Al-Battani, Sinan ibn Thabit, Ibn Wasif of Harran and Yunus al-Harrani, who made contributions to fields including mathematics, astronomy, medicine and philosophy.
The president said hosting Teknofest in Şanlıurfa was intended to connect the country’s historical legacy with the ambitions of its younger generation and the technologies of the future.
He added that organizers wanted young Turks to draw inspiration from their cultural roots while introducing international participants to the country’s history and heritage.
Teknofest began in 2018 with applications from 4,333 teams, Erdoğan said, noting that participation had increased significantly over the years.
This year’s Southeast edition attracted more than 730,000 teams and over 1.6 million competitors from all 81 Turkish provinces and 97 countries, according to the president.
Visitor numbers had also approached 1 million, he added, highlighting the growing public interest in the festival.
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