ANKARA - ''Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, who changed our fate and course of the history, took his distinguished place among the greatest personalities of the humanity with his thoughts and foresight,'' said Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer on Monday.
The International Ataturk Symposium on the 125th Anniversary of His Birth has started in Ankara under the auspices of President Sezer.
Making opening remarks of the symposium, President Sezer said, ''Turkish nation is proud of having such a leader. Ataturk was a genius, an outstanding personality, a courageous hero, an invincible commander, a reformist and a great statesman. Winston Churchill, former Prime Minister of Britain, described Ataturk as a great hero while former U.S. President John F. Kennedy eulogized him as one of the greatest leaders of the 20th century. Ben Gurion, the first prime minister of Israel, said that he did not know any other statesman greater than Ataturk.''
''Ataturk, who changed our fate and course of the history, took his distinguished place among the greatest personalities of the humanity with his thoughts and foresight,'' he stressed.
President Sezer noted, ''during the Ataturk Centennial in 1981, the United Nations Educational, Scientific & Cultural Organization (UNESCO) approved a resolution reading, 'convinced that personalities who worked for understanding and cooperation between nations and international peace will be examples for future generations; knowing that he was an exceptional reformer in all fields relevant to the competence of UNESCO; recognizing in particular that he was the leader of the first struggle given against colonialism and imperialism; recalling that he was the remarkable promoter of the sense of understanding between peoples and durable peace between the nations of the world and that he worked all his life for the development of harmony and cooperation between peoples without distinction of color, religion and race; it is decided that UNESCO should collaborate in 1981 with the Turkish government on both intellectual and technical plans for an international colloquium with the aim of acquainting the world with the various aspects of the personality and deeds of Ataturk whose objective was to promote world peace, international understanding and respect for human rights.' Ataturk carried out one of the most important modernization movements in the 20th century by founding the modern, democratic and secular Republic of Turkey.''
''In order to reach a Turkey dreamt by Ataturk, we should provide our children with all modern opportunities of education in the light of his principles and reforms. Ataturk was a great reformist who never made concessions from rationalism and realism. His principle 'peace at home, peace in the world' also inspire the whole humanity. Turkey has always been pursuing a peaceful foreign policy in line with his principles,'' President Sezer added.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Constitutional Court Chief Judge Tulay Tugcu, General Staff Chief Gen. Hilmi Ozkok, Supreme Court of Appeals Chief Judge Osman Arslan, Council of State Chairperson Sumru Cortoglu, State Minister Besir Atalay, State Minister Nimet Cubukcu, Finance Minister Kemal Unakitan, Energy & Natural Resources Minister Hilmi Guler, Land Forces Commander Gen. Yasar Buyukanit, Gendarmerie Forces Commander Gen. Fevzi Turkeri, Anadolu Agency Director General and Head of Executive Board Dr. Hilmi Bengi and a number of ambassadors were also in attendance at the symposium.