President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan addressed citizens in Istanbul on July 15 Democracy and National Unity Day. “On every July 15th, we mark this day in accordance with its place in our history with various events organized across our country. Today, we are remembering July 15th across Türkiye,” President Erdoğan said, expressing his remembrance of the martyrs with grace and his gratitude to the veterans. Remembering the Turkish people’s epic victory on the night of July 15th, President Erdoğan said: “Together, we are sending a clear message to circles lurking in wait. On the 7th anniversary of July 15th, I declare once again that we will not let July 15th be forgotten and made to be forgotten even if 7 years or 70 years passes. We will keep our anger against the cowards, who shed the blood of our children, alive and vigorous. We will not allow any insidious scenario to disrupt our unity and solidarity.” “JULY 15 IS A MILESTONE” “There are certain milestones in nations’ histories. To us, July 15 is such a milestone. It is one of the most important phases of our a-thousand-year-long struggle to make the Anatolian lands, we live on, our homeland, and our two-hundred-year-long struggle for survival here,” President Erdoğan said. “I would like to remind once again that on the night of July 15th, we not only repelled a bloody and treacherous coup attempt, but we also wrote a great epic that will be told with glory, honor and pride for generations to come. We declared to the whole world that the national will cannot be taken over by tanks, artillery, rifles and airplanes raining bombs on civilians. We reminded the invaders and their pawns that Türkiye is impenetrable, in a very clear way. We showed the whole world how to stand up as a nation, how to unite, how to become one heart,” President Erdoğan said. “JULY 15 IS A DECLARATION OF NATIONAL WILL” “We have demonstrated how people of all ages, backgrounds and political views can unite overnight when their independence is at stake,” President Erdoğan underlined. “July 15 is our glory, dignity and medal of honor. July 15 is a declaration of national will, a proclamation of independence.” “THE REAL TARGET OF THE JULY 15 COUP ATTEMPT WAS OUR NATIONAL WILL, THE INDEPENDENCE OF OUR COUNTRY” “July 15th primarily targeted us and our government. The putschist traitors were so zealous that they made an attempt on our lives. We narrowly got away from an assassination squad sent to where we were staying. During that long night, we overcame many more challenges and attacks. However, the real target of the July 15 coup attempt was our nation, the national will, the independence of our country,” President Erdoğan said. “Türkiye was not faced with an ordinary coup attempt, but a total occupation attempt. We can see this very clearly when we look at the institutions targeted by the putschists. Our Presidential Complex, the home of the nation, was bombed. The Grand National Assembly of Türkiye, the seat of our national will, was bombed. Our National Intelligence Organization, Special Operations Directorate, Ankara Police HQ and other units were heavily attacked. The traitors did not only try to overthrow the government; they also targeted the symbols of the Republic of Türkiye,” President Erdoğan said. “WITH THE JULY 15 RESISTANCE, WE TORE UP ALL THE DIRTY SCENARIOS” “The occupation of the bridge connecting east and west, Europe and Asia was undoubtedly a message,” President Erdoğan said. “With the July 15 resistance, we tore up all these dirty scenarios.” Highlighting the historic reforms, development, investments and projects realized in the past 21 years, President Erdoğan said: “We lifted the shadow of tutelage over our democracy. With the Presidential System of Government, we succeeded in changing our government system through the ballot box for the first time. By making the civilian will dominant with all its elements, we saved Türkiye from the vortex of political instability, social chaos and coups d'état. We have reaped and are reaping the fruits of these moves in many areas. As our country dismantled the shackles on its feet, it started to defend its interests more strongly and to pursue its rights more assertively. As our military, police force, administrative and judicial organizations have been cleansed of FETO traitors, they have become better able to perform their primary duties.” “With our operations in Syria, we thwarted the plans to surround our country with a terror corridor. As soon as the members of the separatist terrorist organization raise their heads, we bring down the iron fist of our state on them,” President Erdoğan said. “By using all diplomatic, political, judicial and intelligence means of our state, we are making the world unbearable for FETO members,” President Erdoğan underlined. “We have ensured that the nests of sedition operating under the guise of educational institutions in many countries around the world are closed down or handed over to the Türkiye Maarif Foundation. We have extradited more than 100 fugitive members of the organization to our country to stand trial. Our operations to decipher the secret structure of the organization continue uninterruptedly. The number of states, especially friendly and brotherly countries, that recognize the true face of this organization and take measures against FETO is increasing day by day. At the recent NATO Summit, we once again expressed our uncompromising stance against FETO and other terrorist organizations.