President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said in his speech at the 30 August Victory Day Special Program that significant progress had been made in the “Terror-Free Turkey” process. He said that hopes would grow and a different wind would blow across the region as the chapters on terrorism were closed, as in Syria.
Erdoğan began his speech by addressing the ferry accident that occurred off Girne, extending his condolences to those who lost their lives, patience to their families and his wishes for a speedy recovery to the survivors. He announced that cooperation would be carried out with the authorities of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus to determine the causes of the accident and ensure that those responsible for negligence are held accountable.
Celebrating 30 August, Erdoğan said the Great Offensive was the final and decisive stage of the National Struggle. Erdoğan stated that the clashes, which began at Afyon Kocatepe on 26 August 1922 and lasted four days, ended in victory at Dumlupınar, adding that the victory paved the way for the establishment of the Republic. Erdoğan commemorated Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, his comrades-in-arms, members of the Assembly and all martyrs with mercy and gratitude, emphasizing that 30 August was a disappointment for the occupiers and a holiday for the nation.
Why it matters
The framework presented in the security section of the speech shows that the Terror-Free Türkiye process being pursued in Türkiye is linked not only to domestic politics but also to the regional security environment in conjunction with developments in Syria. Therefore, the statements leave open the questions of what concrete steps will advance the process and how the distance referred to will be measured. Regarding the ferry accident off Girne, the fact that the investigation is proceeding through cooperation with the relevant authorities keeps the expectation of identifying those responsible for negligence on the agenda; under this heading, announcing the outcomes is important for the families and survivors. The historical emphasis on 30 August also shows that the ceremony is not merely commemorative, but once again foregrounds the official historical narrative associated with the founding of the Republic.
Background
Erdoğan is not a new name in the FikirPilot archive: we have published 2 news reports mentioning this name in the last 90 days; the most recent was dated 28 August 2026.