Happy Victory Day, Turkey!

The August 30 Victory Day, the anniversary of Turkish victory over Greek forces in the war of independence 92 years ago, symbolizes the power of the Turkish nation in overcoming obstacles with the spirit of brotherhood, said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. 

 Happy Victory Day

Emphasizing August 30 was the day on which the Turkish lands were entirely cleared from the enemies, President Erdogan said in his Victory Day message on Friday: "Our mighty nation did not stray from its path and did not allow any harm to its existence.

Turkish President Muhammed Recep Tayyip Erdogan

"Thanks to the fact that our nation still shows the same determination, we now have the pride of living in a country that has broken all types of tutelages," he added.

30th August, Victory Day, is also the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) Day!

Erdogan's election is the first by popular vote in Turkish history. On Thursday, he wrote in the notebook of Anitkabir, the mausoleum of Turkey's founder Mustafa Kemal Atatürk: "After your passing, the bonds between the republic and the president's office have weakened." The victory on August 30, 1922, over the Greek military was the last big engagement between the two armies.

Thousands of Atatürk fans are gathered at Anıtkabir, the site of Atatürk's mausoleum in Ankara.

Monument of Dumlupınar Battle mausoleum

The war began with the Greek invasion of Izmir in May 1919 after the end of World War I with tacit support from the allies. Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu also welcomed the day, saying: "With the inspiration we took from our ancestors, we set a goal to live in peace without any discrimination between our citizens and to establish peace and justice in our region."

 "I believe that our determination on that path will be an assurance for a bright and peaceful future which will rise from this blessed victory," Davutoglu added.

Decorated Pakistani Bus in Istanbul, Turkey