Turkish Ambassador: 'July 15' a historic turning point that proved our people's commitment to democracy
During an event commemorating the tenth anniversary of the failed coup attempt
Turkish Ambassador Topa Nur Sonmez affirmed that the anniversary of July 15, Democracy and National Unity Day, holds a special and profound place in the Turkish national consciousness, as it marks a pivotal milestone in the history of the modern Turkish Republic and embodies the Turkish people’s commitment to their democracy, sovereignty, and national will.
This statement was made during an event commemorating the tenth anniversary of the failed coup attempt that took place in Turkey on July 15, 2016, organized by the Embassy at its Diwaniya.
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The event was attended by Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Human Rights Affairs, Ambassador Sheikh Jauhar Al-Duwaikh Al-Sabah, and Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for International Organizations Affairs, Ambassador Sadiq Maaref, along with a number of ambassadors and heads of diplomatic missions accredited to Kuwait.
Speaking at the event, the Ambassador stated that that night represented one of the most serious challenges the country has faced, as the coup attempt targeted the constitutionally elected government, the constitutional system, national sovereignty, and the democratic values upon which the Turkish Republic is founded.
She explained that the "Fethullah Terrorist Organization" (FETO), which stands behind the coup attempt, spent years building a clandestine network under the guise of educational and community work, before attempting to seize control of the state on the night of July 15 through elements infiltrated within the armed forces. She noted that the coup attempt included an assassination attempt against President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, bombing of the Turkish Parliament building, attacks on state institutions, and assaults on innocent civilians, in an effort to impose the will of a clandestine organization on the state and the Turkish people.
She emphasized that the perpetrators of the coup had not anticipated the firm will of the Turkish people, who took to the streets by the millions to defend democracy, united across all political and social affiliations around a single goal: protecting the constitutional system and the popular will.
She added that the courage, determination, and sacrifices of the Turkish people in confronting the coup served as irrefutable proof of Turkey’s commitment to democratic values, affirming that July 15 became a historic turning point that demonstrated the people’s steadfastness in defending democracy, national will, and independence.
She further stated that Turkey continues its close cooperation with friendly nations and international partners to raise awareness of the severity of this organization, given its transnational nature and clandestine methods, stressing that the threat it poses is not limited to Turkey’s internal affairs.
Concluding her speech, Ambassador Topa Nur Sonmez affirmed that the spirit of July 15 remains alive ten years later, underscoring that the will of peoples is stronger than any conspiracy targeting them, and that protecting democracy is a shared responsibility and a national duty.
