On 10 November, a flower-laying ceremony was held in Ashgabat at the monument to Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder of the Republic of Türkiye. The commemorative event took place in the park that bears his name, marking the 88th anniversary of the death of the distinguished statesman.
The ceremony was attended by Şener Cebeci, Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to Turkmenistan, as well as representatives of the capital’s administration, the diplomatic corps and public organizations, Turkish business circles, and students of the joint Turkmen-Turkish school.
Those gathered honored the memory of Türkiye’s first president with a minute of silence. The national anthems of Turkmenistan and the Republic of Türkiye were then played, after which participants laid flowers at the monument.
Speaking at the ceremony, Derya Başarangil, attaché at the Embassy of Türkiye, highlighted Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s historic role in founding the Republic of Türkiye and laying the foundations of the modern state.
“Our Great Leader was an outstanding statesman whose visionary approach to governance, far ahead of his time, together with his foresight and unwavering faith in his people, made him a model not only for the Turkish nation but for the whole world. He was a unique leader who left a deep mark on his era through his ideas and deeds,” Başarangil said.
She emphasized that the Republic of Türkiye continues to develop on the principles laid down by its founder, and that Atatürk’s well-known motto, “Peace at home, peace in the world,” remains one of the constant guiding principles of the country’s foreign policy.
“We consider it our most important duty not merely to remember Atatürk’s ideas, values and ideals, but to put them into practice and pass them on to future generations,” the diplomat said.
Particular attention in her address was given to Turkish-Turkmen relations. Derya Başarangil expressed gratitude to the Turkmen side for organizing the commemorative ceremony and for maintaining the Atatürk Park, noting that it serves as a symbol of the historical and cultural closeness of the two peoples.
She also stressed the importance of further strengthening the traditional bonds of friendship between Türkiye and Turkmenistan, and thanked President Serdar Berdimuhamedov and the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, for supporting the development of bilateral relations in all areas.
The ceremony in Ashgabat was both a tribute to the founder of the Republic of Türkiye and a symbol of respect for the historical ties that unite the Turkish and Turkmen peoples. ///nCa, 10 November 2026