Research and Application Center of Ataturk Principles and Revolution History at Ondokuz Mayıs University organized a conference on "The Road to Republic" in the Conference Hall of the Faculty of Education due to the 94th anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic.
The conference in which Asst. Prof. Mehmet Aydın, academician in the Faculty of Education, made a speech was held with the participation of Prof. Dursun Ali Akbulut, Dean of the Faculty of Education, Prof. Rıza Karagöz, Head of the Research and Application Center of Atatürk's Principles and Revolution History and Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, Assoc. Prof. Murat Terzi, Assistant to Rector, numerous academcians and students.
The conference started with stand in silence for Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Republic, his fellow soldiers and all the martyrs who had lost their lives for this country, and then the participants sang Turkish National Anthem. After that, Asst. Prof. Mehmet Aydin shared information about the historical process that took place from the collapse of the Ottoman Empire to the proclamation of the Republic, and he explained the meaning of the word "Republic".
Asst. Prof. Aydın defined the Republic as the civil order of a state, and he remarked that the concepts of republic and democracy were generally confused. "Republic is the administration of peoples, while democracy means people's management. Republican administration paves the way for democracy, but the result may not be always democracy. " said Aydın.
Mehmet Aydin noted that the Ottoman Empire was greatly influenced with the concepts emerging in the Europe such as "people's domination, rule of law, separation of powers"; he also remarked: "Ottoman intellectuals did not consider the concept of republic. They thought that liberty and democracy could put into practice by means of the legitimate monarchy. The idea of Republic was introduced by Atatürk. "
Aydın summarized the process extending from the protests against the occupations starting with the Mondros Armistice to the proclamation of the Republic on October 29, 1923, and he said: "The Republic of Turkey is the last state founded by Anatolian Turks at the expense of their own lives. We wish that this state will live forever by protecting its independence, honor and dignity. The Republic is a common value beyond any political thought and ideology. It is important for our national unity. I commemorate Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk who founded our Republic and entrusted it to us, his fellow soldiers and martyrs with respect, gratitude and appreciation."
Prof. Rıza Karagöz, Head of the Research and Application Center of Atatürk's Principles and Revolution History and Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, thanked Asst. Prof. Mehmet Aydın for the valuable information that he provided, and he announced that the center would continue to organize new activities. Prof. Riza Karagöz added that they would organize another program on November 10th in order to commemorate Atatürk on the anniversary of his death.
Story: Çiğdem ÜNALDI
Photography: Sinan AKDOĞAN
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