Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) President Abdullah Eren stated that explaining Türkiye's theses and the struggle of the Turkish nation is among his duties and said, "To date, as TIKA, we have implemented 177 projects and activities related to July 15 in our different offices since July 15, 2016. Some of them were cultural events, some were concrete projects." he said.
Eren made a statement to the AA correspondent regarding the coup attempt of the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) on July 15, 2016.
Stating that July 15 was written in golden letters in history thanks to the resistance of the Turkish nation against the coup attempt, Eren emphasized that this resistance showed the whole world that the national will belongs only to the nation.
Pointing out that the struggle for democracy in Türkiye dates back to many years, Eren said, "One of the things that makes July 15 special is the struggle of the nation itself against tutelage." he said.
Eren stated that the coup attempt was organized by groups abroad, but the nation stopped it by not allowing intervention in democracy in Türkiye.
Stating that in Türkiye's history of coups, the people expressed their will at the ballot box after the coups, Eren said, "This time, the nation resolved the issue that night, and did not leave it to the elections. Because if the squares had been lost that night, the national will would have surrendered. There are many issues that distinguish July 15 from other coup attempts, but the most important thing is that the nation said 'enough' that night and put an end to the history of coups." made his assessment.
Eren stated that TIKA is one of the leading institutions of Türkiye's public diplomacy and noted that they operate all over the world and there is no geography they do not reach.
"We implemented 177 projects and activities related to July 15"
Stating that they operate in 57 offices in 53 countries around the world and carry out development projects in more than 170 countries, Eren continued as follows:
"TIKA has touched the lives of hundreds of thousands of people so far and has reached all over the world with Türkiye's strategic mind and the hand of mercy. In this context, explaining Türkiye's theses and the struggle of the Turkish nation is undoubtedly among our duties, as in our other institutions. To date, as TIKA, we have implemented 177 projects and activities related to July 15 in our different offices since July 15, 2016. Some of them were cultural events, and some were concrete projects."
Stating that they carried out more than 30 activities this year, Eren pointed out that they have implemented more than 10 July 15 Parks and permanent projects in various countries, especially in Mozambique, Kenya and Serbia.
Noting that they are carrying out activities for the families of martyrs together with the July 15 Association, Eren said, "We are taking 30 families to 10 countries. We will open the park in Serbia with the children of 3 of our July 15 martyrs. The rest will go to the other 9 countries. We are sending 30 families. Let them see that July 15 has not been forgotten, and has not been made to be forgotten by TIKA or Türkiye. The parks, libraries, July 15 events there. "We want them to see that the memories of our martyrs, their fathers and brothers are remembered and kept alive." he said.
In his call to young people, Eren stated that they should watch the footage of the night of July 15 and see for themselves how real the struggle that took place that night was.
Pointing out that FETO is the product of a mentality that wants to recruit the children of this nation and use them as weapons against this nation, Eren said, "The most important thing that July 15 taught us is that we should stay away from understandings that do not prioritize Turkey, these lands and the people of this country. We have our own intellectuals, intellectuals and opinion leaders." he said.