UPDATE - Century of Türkiye' has begun: President Erdogan

ADDS MORE REMARKS OF TURKISH PRESIDENT

By Diyar Guldogan

ANKARA (AA) – With the “Century of Türkiye” started, the path to the rise of Türkiye is now before us, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday.

"Türkiye entered a new path after the casting of votes ended and the results were announced. The Century of Türkiye has begun, and the doors of our country's growth have been opened," Erdogan said at his inauguration ceremony at the presidential complex, with the attendance of high-level officials from 81 countries.

Earlier, Erdogan took his renewed oath of office as Türkiye's president.

Türkiye went to the polls on May 28 for a presidential runoff after no candidate secured more than 50% of the vote needed for an outright victory in the first round on May 14.

Erdogan won the race with 52.18% of the vote, while opposition candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu got 47.82%, according to official results.

Earlier, Erdogan’s Justice and Development (AK) Party and its allies also won a majority in parliament.

"I hope this lofty mission will be auspicious for my nation, to which I have devoted my life, to all parts of our heartland, and to humanity. I hope we will not disappoint our beloved nation that trusts me, our party, and our alliance," Erdogan said.

The president added that he will not forget the outpouring of support he felt in Türkiye and surrounding regions on May 28.

"We will embrace all 85 million people (in the country), regardless of their political views, origins, or sect," Erdogan pledged.

He said the nation’s 85 million citizens need to be joined together "like the bricks of a wall" as the country needs unity and solidarity now more than ever.

"Our nation, which a century ago completed their national struggle with the foundation of the republic, will crown the second century of the republic with the Century of Türkiye," Erdogan said, promising to implement the vision step by step over the five years of his term in office.

"As we have been doing for the past 21 years, we will hopefully deliver upon our promises one by one,” he said, referring to the November 2002 elections, which swept his AK Party into office.

“We will save our democracy from the current constitution, which is a product of the (1980) coup, and strengthen it with a libertarian, civilian and inclusive one,” he further pledged.

"We will continue to develop our country through investment, employment, production, exports, and a current account surplus. We are determined to put Ghazi Mustafa Kemal's (Ataturk) principle of ‘Peace at home, Peace in the world’ into practice in its true meaning," he added.

- Announcement of cabinet later tonight

"We will continue to weave together the Century of Türkiye with our new cabinet," Erdogan said, adding he will announce its members later Saturday.

He also said the first cabinet meeting under his chairmanship will be take place on Tuesday.

Erdogan also vowed to work with devotion over the next five years to honor Türkiye.

"We promise to work with all our strength to protect the glory and honor of the Republic of Türkiye, to promote its reputation, and to glorify its name in the world for five years," he added.

The ceremony was attended by high-level officials, including 50 heads of state, 13 prime ministers, parliamentary, and ministerial-level officials, and representatives of international organizations, including NATO, the Organization of Turkic States, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

Among the attendees were Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus President Ersin Tatar, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

Later, Erdogan will host his guests at a dinner at the Cankaya Palace.