"One of the most ruthless coup attempts in Turkish political history took place exactly 10 years ago – on July 15, 2016. The aim of this coup attempt, carried out by a terrorist network that had secretly infiltrated our country's institutions, was to drag Türkiye into chaos that would last for many years and seize control of the future of our nation" Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said in an article he wrote on the 2016 coup attempt, APA reports.
According to him, "the foresight, courage and wisdom demonstrated by the Turkish people on the night of July 15 are undoubtedly unparalleled in the history of world democracy."
"This treacherous coup attempt carried out by the Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ) went far beyond an ordinary military coup attempt and was an attempt at occupation that threatened our country's independence. The first targets of the putschists were the Presidential Complex and the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye, the institutions symbolizing the national will and the independence of our people. In my statement on the night of July 15, I particularly emphasized that I had never recognized any power greater than the power of the people. When I made that statement, I was certain that the Turkish people would stand up for their own will. Thus, on that very night, our people, who poured into the streets with great faith and self-confidence, refused to submit to the rule of the terrorist network. By resisting at the cost of their lives to protect their country's independence, democratic achievements and free will, our people put the putschists in their place and wrote an epic of national will that will be proudly passed down from generation to generation," the Turkish leader stressed.
Erdoğan noted that the fight against terrorism, one of the key conditions for international cooperation, continues to rank high on the country's foreign policy agenda.
"As is known, the process of internal fragmentation within FETÖ's activities abroad has accelerated over the past two years. At the same time, we have clearly identified facts showing that many states have secretly supported this organization and provided shelter to its members.
As a nation that lost 253 sons and daughters to the putschists on the night of July 15, our main expectation from the international community is support for Türkiye's just struggle. Global peace, security and prosperity can only be ensured through determined and uncompromising efforts against terrorist organizations without discrimination, along with sincere cooperation," he added.
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