UPDATE - World leaders, organizations greet Türkiye on Victory Day

UPDATES WITH STATEMENTS BY OTHER COUNTRIES, CHANGES HEADLINE, LEDE, BYLINE AND DATELINE

By Ahmet Gencturk, Merve Berker and Dilara Afifi

ANKARA / ATHENS (AA) – Leaders from Saudi Arabia, Azerbaijan, and international organizations on Wednesday congratulated Türkiye on its Victory Day, which was also observed in the country’s embassies around the world.

NATO's Allied Land Command (LANDCOM), based in the western Turkish province of Izmir, said in a congratulatory message posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, that it "wishes a happy Victory and Turkish Armed Forces Day to our host nation," on the 101st anniversary of the Battle of Dumlupinar victory.

“On this very special day, we would like to express our gratitude to Türkiye for their hospitality as our hosts,” it added.

Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman congratulated Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Victory Day.

In separate cables to the Turkish president, the Saudi monarch and his crown prince wished Turkiye continued progress and prosperity.

Meanwhile, the day was commemorated in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) at the Ataturk Monument in the capital Lefkosa, with President Ersin Tatar, Prime Minister Unal Ustel, and other officials in attendance.

Tatar stated in a message written in a special notebook during the ceremony that the battle won on Aug. 30, 1922, was a great victory that the Turkish nation had once again shown to the whole world that it would never accept captivity.

“The Turkish Cypriot people will continue to walk together with their homeland, the Republic of Türkiye, in full harmony and close cooperation, and will never give up their state and sovereignty," he added.

In a greeting message from Azerbaijan, Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov stated in his post on X, "Today, the 101st anniversary of the Victory Day, which is the embodiment of the glorious victory achieved by the perseverance and heroism of fraternally Türkiye in the War of Independence."

“I convey my congratulations on this occasion and commemorate the cherished memory of our martyrs with deep respect,” he added.​​​​​​​

Victory Day marks the final battle in western Anatolia against Greek forces in 1922 and is dedicated to the Turkish Armed Forces.

From Aug. 26 to Aug. 30, 1922, Turkish forces fought the Battle of Dumlupinar in what is now Türkiye’s central Kutahya province, where the invading Greek army was decisively defeated.

By the end of 1922, all foreign forces had been expelled from the territories that collectively became the Republic of Türkiye a year later.

*Writing by Ikram Kouachi