President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan marked the 107th anniversary of the Erzurum Congress, a pivotal event in Türkiye’s War of Independence.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan issued a statement on Thursday to mark the 107th anniversary of the Erzurum Congress. The event, which began on July 23, 1919, is recognized as a turning point in the Turkish War of Independence. Erdoğan honored the congress members for their role in rejecting foreign mandates and declaring the homeland an indivisible whole.

Historical context of the congress

The Erzurum Congress was convened in 1919 as imperial powers sought to partition Ottoman territories following World War I. It was organized to address threats to eastern provinces, including Erzurum, Sivas, Van, Bitlis, Diyarbakır, and Elazığ, and to counter territorial claims in northern regions such as Trabzon and Rize. The gathering lasted two weeks and adopted resolutions affirming that the nation's borders were indivisible and that the rights of the Muslim population must be respected.

Legacy and national impact

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, who led the congress, described the event as a rare achievement that laid the foundations for the Republic of Türkiye, which was later declared on October 29, 1923. In his statement, President Erdoğan noted that the congress continues to serve as a source of inspiration for national unity and solidarity.