The 2235th anniversary of the establishment of the Land Forces Command was celebrated with a ceremony held in Ankara.

A ceremony was held at the Land Forces Command Headquarters on the occasion of the 2235th anniversary of the establishment of the Land Forces Command. Land Forces Commander General Metin Tokel, relatives of martyrs, veterans, veterans’ relatives, Land Forces Headquarters personnel and their families attended the program. The program started with a moment of silence and the reading of the National Anthem, followed by prayers.

At the ceremony, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s congratulatory telegram was read.

In his message, Erdogan said, “I congratulate the founding anniversary of our Land Forces Command, the apple of our heroic army’s eye and the source of trust and pride of our nation.”

Stating that the Land Forces are the guarantee of the survival of the state and the peace and security of the nation with their centuries-old history, superior sense of discipline, high sense of duty and history full of glorious victories, President Erdoğan said, “Our heroic Mehmetçik, who wrote epics in the defense of our homeland from Malazgirt to Çanakkale, from Sakarya to the present day, is still performing his duty with the same faith, perseverance and determination.”

Emphasizing that the Land Forces, which are becoming stronger day by day with the opportunities of the local and national defense industry in line with the targets of the Turkish Century, make significant contributions to the country’s deterrence and regional peace, President Erdoğan said, “I congratulate all members of our Land Forces Command, and remember with mercy our martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the sake of the country and our heroic veterans with gratitude. I wish health, success and success to all our personnel on duty.”

Following President Erdoğan’s message, congratulatory telegrams from Minister of National Defense Yaşar Güler and Chief of General Staff General Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu were shared with the participants.

Commander of the Land Forces, General Metin Tokel, also made a speech within the scope of the program.

Tokel stated that the foundations of the Land Forces were laid by Mete Han 2235 years ago and that it is a big family with its deep-rooted history, strong traditions and unshakable spirit of solidarity.

Pointing out that the Land Forces are one of the most established military organizations in the world, Tokel said, “Our Land Forces, which have served for the peace, security and independence of our nation throughout history, have always been by our nation’s side and at its command, with the strength and high sense of duty it draws from its deep-rooted past.”

Emphasizing that Sheikh Edebali’s saying “Let the people live so that the state lives” still forms the basis of their understanding of duty today, Tokel stated that they see the welfare of the staff, their professional development and strengthening the sense of corporate belonging among their priorities.

Expressing that Türkiye is the legacy of martyrs and veterans, Tokel stated that they prepared the Land Forces for the second century of the Republic under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, with the inspiration they received from the historical heritage extending from Mete Khan to Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.

Tokel said, “We are trying to strengthen our Land Forces and further increase our deterrence in the world with the capabilities required by the changing security environment. In this context, we continue to accelerate our work with determination and effort.”

Stating that today’s security environment has turned into a multidimensional structure, Tokel said that in addition to land, air and sea operation areas, space, cyberspace and electromagnetic spectrum have become integral elements of the battlefield.

Tokel added that in this context, they have made significant progress in areas such as unmanned systems, artificial intelligence-supported technologies, electronic warfare, cyber security, air defense systems and long-range precision strike capability.

Mehteran Union gave a concert within the scope of the ceremony. During the concert, the Equestrian Sports Training Center Union paraded with flags representing the 16 Turkish states established in history. Following the program, a commemorative object was presented to the Commander of the Land Forces, General Metin Tokel, to commemorate the day.
Within the scope of the event, participants also took photos with KİRPİ, Sikorsky, Mehteran Corps and the commando branch and watched the demonstrations of bomb detection and search and rescue dogs. Pastries, bread and soup prepared in ERAY kitchen and GÖKBERK field oven were served to the participants. At the end of the program, the guests visited the stands displaying national defense industry products and received information from the authorities.

Within the scope of the ‘Our Local Delicacies Project with Women’s Handicrafts in the City of Religions and Languages’ prepared by Midyat District Governorate in Mardin and supported by Dicle Development Agency (DİKA), a local delicacies cafe and handicrafts sales store was opened in the stone mansion next to the historical State Guest House. Within the scope of the project, 15 women will be employed in the cafeteria that will operate in the historical mansion, and visitors will be offered local delicacies such as stuffed meatballs, sembusek, pancake varieties, stuffed ribs, mehir soup, homemade basil sherbet and lemonade. In addition, filigree products, embroidery works, decorative ornaments and various handicraft products prepared by approximately 250 women who produce at the Family Support Center courses within Midyat Public Education Center will also be sold.

WE ARE WAITING FOR EVERYONE
Midyat District Governor Mehmet Kaya stated that the center contributes to the participation of women in economic life and said, “A very nice project has emerged with a local products sales place, kitchen and cafeteria. I am waiting for all our citizens. Many local products are offered for sale in our cooperative. We will always continue to support our women. As long as our women produce, our women create added value. As a state, we are always with our women.” Midyat Women’s Enterprise, Production and Business Cooperative President Gülten Erol said, “15 women are actively working in our cooperative. We cook very delicious food here. We offer many local delicacies to our guests. We invite all local and foreign tourists to introduce Midyat’s historical atmosphere and culinary culture.” DHA

‘WE ARE EXPERIENCED THE HAPPINESS OF PRODUCING’
Safiye Çelik, one of the women working within the CO-OPERATIVE, expressed her satisfaction with the project and said, “We make pancakes here, wrap them in vine leaves and serve them to our guests. We both contribute to our family budget and experience the happiness of producing in a social environment.” Türkan Tunç said, “Our prices are affordable. This place has become an important source of income for us. We had the opportunity to turn our labor into profit.”

Ceremonies were also held in Şanlıurfa, Diyarbakır, Gaziantep and Kars on the 2235th anniversary of the establishment of the Turkish Land Forces. At the ceremony in Kayseri, Kayseri 1st Airborne and Commando Brigade Commander Brigadier General Mesut Koçak said, “This deep-rooted heritage is the symbol of our nation’s will to independence and love of the homeland. In addition to their success in the fight against terrorism, our troops continue their duties successfully within the scope of peacekeeping activities.” At the ceremony, training demonstrations of military dogs and drone and mountaineering demonstrations attracted great attention. While local and national weapons and equipment were opened to visitors, the commandos who hit the targets with sniper rifles with full accuracy received full marks from the audience.

At the ceremony at the 7th Corps Command General Galip Naval Barracks in Diyarbakır, Colonel Birol Danişman emphasized that the Turkish army has written its name in history in golden letters with its successes. At the ceremony in Şanlıurfa, commandos reenacted the landing at Bayraktepe. Ceremonies were also held at the 5th Armored Brigade Command in Gaziantep and the 14th Mechanized Infantry Brigade Command Marshal Fevzi Çakmak Pasha Barracks in Kars.

CELEBRATION MESSAGE FROM ERDOĞAN
President Erdoğan celebrated the anniversary of the establishment of the Turkish Land Forces. In his post on his NSosyal account, Erdoğan included the following statements: “I wholeheartedly congratulate the anniversary of the establishment of our Turkish Land Forces, which has a glorious history of 2235 years. I commemorate our beloved martyrs with mercy and wish success to all the brave soldiers of our Turkish Armed Forces and Land Forces.”

Numan Kurtulmuş, Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye (TBMM), met with Marcos Perestrello, President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly (NATO PA), within the scope of the NATO Parliamentary Summit held in Istanbul. During the meeting held at the Turkish Grand National Assembly Istanbul Working Office, Kurtulmuş stated that he was pleased that Türkiye hosted the NATO Parliamentary Summit. Kurtulmuş stated that the summit will enable the parliamentarians and parliamentarians of the Alliance member countries to discuss current and strategic issues and said, “We believe that the summit will contribute to the spirit of unity and solidarity of NATO.”

IMPORTANT FOR THE FUTURE OF THE ALLIANCE
Parliament Speaker Kurtulmuş emphasized that the NATO Parliamentary Summit held in Istanbul and the NATO Leaders Summit to be held in Ankara on 7-8 July are important for the future of the Alliance in a critical period when global and regional developments intensify. Kurtulmuş stated that it is of great importance to continue the support of parliaments to achieve common goals in the field of security and defense, especially commitments regarding defense expenditures. Numan Kurtulmuş also said, “NATO needs to develop a structure that can initiate peacemaking initiatives by improving its current vision.”

The illegal betting investigation against former Fenerbahçe president Sadettin Saran and other suspects was heard at the Istanbul Criminal Court of First Instance. The judge who decided the case sentenced the defendants Sadettin Saran and Alan Kenan Saran to 2 years and 6 months in prison and a judicial fine of 562 thousand 500 liras each for “advertising and otherwise encouraging people to play fixed odds or joint betting or games of chance based on sports competitions”. The judge acquitted the other defendants, Emre Eren and Azade Zeynep Haksal.

ATTENTION WAS DRAWN TO THE DANGER OF YOUTH BEING INVOLVED IN BETTING AND GAMBLING

In the reasoned decision, it was stated that the illegal betting advertisements in question were made in a football match, appealed to a large audience through a digital platform, advertised illegal betting sites and encouraged these activities. In the decision, it was noted that beyond individual grievances, the transfer of money in Türkiye abroad, without being subject to inspection, without compensation, threatens public and economic security. In the reasoned decision, it was stated that young people living in the Republic of Turkey are at risk of falling into illegal betting and gambling while watching a sports match, and that the punishment given to the defendants was taken as a precaution.

FROM THE INDICTMENT

It was stated that illegal betting advertisements in football competitions broadcast on the “S SPORT” internet broadcasting platform serving under Saran Internet Television Publishing Inc. in 2023 were unlicensed and that illegal betting site advertisements were made by placing stadium billboards and next to both goals. In the indictment, it was stated that the advertisements in the match broadcasts in question reached large audiences, and it was evaluated that betting games, which are considered as “digital drugs”, were suitable for disrupting the structure of society by negatively affecting individuals materially and morally. In the indictment, “In terms of the publications subject to the investigation, there is sufficient suspicion that the broadcasting company’s general manager, broadcasting director and responsible managers, as well as the members of the board of directors, who are authorized to represent the legal entity of the broadcasting company and are authorized for all kinds of work and transactions required for the management of the company, and who have knowledge and approval in the broadcasting of matches containing illegal betting advertisements, are jointly responsible and at fault.” evaluation was included.

The reactions to the cruise organized by a US company for LGBT people have yielded results. Türkiye’s ports were removed from the tour route. The bar, which was planning to organize a party for perverted ship passengers, was closed by the Beyoğlu District Governorate upon the instructions of the Istanbul Governorship the previous day. When the Istanbul leg of the organization collapsed, Atlantis Events company gave up on the visit to Türkiye of the ship carrying 2,500 homosexuals. Reactions to the ship, which was previously planned to go to Kuşadası and Istanbul, also grew. In this context, a protest demonstration was organized by NGOs in Beyazıt Square yesterday. Secretary General of the Big Family Platform Dr. At the event attended by Serdar Eryılmaz, Young IHH President Mücahit Çankaya made a statement on behalf of the group.

Stating that “Turkey has been facing a multidimensional siege not only in the economic, political or security fields in recent years, but also in the socio-cultural field,” Çankaya said: “On the one hand, while efforts are being made to transform the mental world of our children and young people with activities aimed at spreading gender ideology in our schools under the name of education, on the other hand, organizations targeting the common values, cultural sensitivities and family structure of our society are being put into action under the name of tourism and entertainment.”