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Oct 29 2021

Turkey's National Day

Republic Day (Turkish: Cumhuriyet Bayramı) is a public holiday in Turkey commemorating the proclamation of the Republic of Turkey, on October 29, 1923. The annual celebrations start at 1:00 pm on 28 October and continue for 35 hours.

Meet Mehmet Cetin from NATO's Cyber Security Centre. We asked him a few questions about his country and about Turkey's National Day.

Read his answers below:

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Turkey

OR8 - Mehmet Cetin

NATO Cyber Security Centre - Technician Operations Centre

1. What do you miss most about home?

The most is my homeland, Türkiye, where I was born and raised.


2. What have you found rewarding about working in such a multinational environment as SHAPE?

Personally, I can say to see different cultures, make friends from different countries, and visit places with historical and cultural meaning. From a professional point of view, working at SHAPE allows me to gain experience in the practices of both NATO and other countries. NATO, on the other hand, benefits from experienced personnel in the Turkish Armed Forces and increases the level of interoperability among alliance members.


3. What is something unique about Turkey that others might not know?

Anatolia, which has hosted many civilisations throughout history, makes Türkiye unique. Being one of the world's leading cities in terms of history and culture, Istanbul also connects the continents of Europe and Asia. In addition, the history of Göbekli Tepe, which is considered as the birth point of civilisation in the world, goes back to about 12,000 years ago.


4. During normal non COVID times how would you usually celebrate this national day?

Our national and official holidays are our values that we celebrate together as a nation and reinforce our unity and solidarity. By commemorating the great heroisms of the past, we ensure that it is passed down from generation to generation. We all know very well that societies that do not know history are doomed to extinction. Our Republic Day is celebrated with the same understanding and spirit. It begins with 21-gun salute in the capital at 13:00 on 28 October and ends at 24:00 on 29 October. In accordance with the meaning of the day, President of the Republic of Türkiye with government officials and military officials visit Anıtkabir, the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the Founder of the Republic of Türkiye. Subsequently, people from all over the country visit the mausoleum in the capital Ankara. The state ceremony in the capital is among the symbols of the Republic Day celebrations in Türkiye. Congratulations is accepted by the President at the Presidency; Our President celebrates Republic Day of the people who attend the ceremony and our people. Ceremonies and celebration programs are prepared in accordance with the requirements of national honor. Most of the time, our national team in the sky, Turkish Air Force aerobatic team "Turkish Stars" performs airshow.

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