Turkish embassies in Western Balkans mark 8th anniversary of 2016 coup attempt

By Talha Ozturk

BELGRADE, Serbia (AA) - Turkish embassies in Western Balkan countries marked the eighth anniversary of the July 15, 2016 defeated coup attempt in Türkiye on Monday, remembering the lives lost and celebrating the nation's unity.

The program at Türkiye’s Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina's capital Sarajevo began with a moment of silence followed by the singing of the National Anthem and prayers for those killed.

In his speech, Ambassador Sadık Babur Girgin said the coup attempt by members of the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) was prevented by resistance and the nation that defended democracy achieved victory.

After the commemoration ceremony, ​​Girgin and an accompanying delegation went to Kovaci Martyrs' Cemetery and prayed for those who lost their lives defeating the putschists.

As part of the commemoration events, an exhibition consisting of photographs of Anadolu photojournalists depicting the events of July 15 was opened by the Sarajevo Yunus Emre Institute in Bascarsija.

- Serbia

In Serbia, the July 15 Translation and Digitalization Workshop built by the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) at the Dositey Obradovic Library was opened in the city of Novi Pazar, where Muslims make up the majority of the population.

Turkish Ambassador to Serbia Hami Aksoy said they will never forget the solidarity of the people of Novi Pazar with them during the coup attempt.

He added that Serbia, as a state, also supports their fight against FETO.

Serbia “is one of the rare countries in the Balkan geography that does not allow FETO to survive,'' he said.

TIKA Serbia Coordinator Mehmet Mete Anac said the project will make a significant contribution to opening the region's rich cultural heritage to the world.

Novi Pazar Mayor Nihat Bisevac also thanked the Turkish people and Turkish institutions for the project carried out by TIKA.

- Montenegro

A July 15 Democracy and National Unity Day commemoration program in Montenegro was held at the Turkish Embassy in the capital, Podgorica.

After a moment of silence and the National Anthem, Podgorica Embassy Religious Services Counselor Bahattin Akbas prayed for those killed and read versus from the Muslim holy book, the Quran.

Podgorica Ambassador Baris Kalkavan said citizens of the Turkish nation heroically protected its democracy, national will and spiritual values ​​by risking dying for their homeland on the night of July 15, 2016.

Additionally, Anadolu July 15 photographs were exhibited at the embassy.

- Croatia

In Croatia, a commemoration event was held at the Turkish Embassy in the capital Zagreb with the participation of embassy staff and representatives of Turkish institutions and organizations.

After a moment of silence, the National Anthem was sung.

The program also featured a video showing what happened during the FETO coup attempt and a photo exhibition was also opened.

Since its designation in October 2016, every year, Türkiye marks July 15 as Democracy and National Unity Day, with events held nationwide to commemorate those who lost their lives beating back the putschists and to remember the bravery of the nation.