A commemoration ceremony with the theme "The Name of Victory is Türkiye" was held in Skopje, the capital of North Macedonia, on the occasion of July 15 Democracy and National Unity Day.
The ceremony held at the Embassy residence, hosted by Türkiye's Ambassador to Skopje, Fatih Ulusoy, was attended by North Macedonian Parliament Speaker Afrim Gashi, North Macedonia Islamic Union President Şakir Fetahu, North Macedonian ministers, mayors, MPs, representatives of political parties from different ethnic groups in the country, representatives of Turkish and local institutions and organizations in the country and many guests.
The program started with a minute of silence and the reading of the National Anthem. Then, a video from the night of July 15 was shown.
In his speech here, Ambassador Ulusoy said, "What happened on the night of July 15 was not just a coup attempt, it was a bloody terrorist act aimed at overthrowing the constitutional order, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the legitimate government."
Noting that the July 15 coup attempt of the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) was aborted under the leadership of President Erdoğan and the determined stance of the Turkish people, Ulusoy said, "As a result of the comprehensive struggle carried out by our democratic institutions and law enforcement forces in the following period since 2016, FETO's field of action in the country has been eliminated." he said.
Ulusoy pointed out that FETO is trying to find space in different geographies by taking shelter behind activities such as education, trade, humanitarian aid and media, and exploiting religious and human emotions and universal values.
Stating that a significant part of the FETO structures in friendly and allied countries were defeated thanks to the international cooperation carried out by the Turkish state, Ulusoy emphasized that Türkiye will continue its determined fight against all terrorist organizations, including FETO, domestically and internationally, within the framework of international law.
Stating that they are saddened to see that FETO still maintains its presence in North Macedonia and that it is exploiting the name of Yahya Kemal, one of the important poets of Turkish literature, under the guise of an educational institution, Ulusoy said, "We provide all necessary information to our interlocutors in North Macedonia on these issues and hope that our cooperation will yield concrete results. On the night of July 15, we witnessed that our brothers in this friendly and brotherly country stand by the Turkish nation and are ready to provide all the necessary support." he said.
Ulusoy pointed out that Turkish citizens abroad have a great responsibility to raise awareness about the true face of FETO and said, "Tell the true face of this terrorist organization to every segment of society in North Macedonia. Inform all our friends about its treacherous ambitions." he said.
As part of the commemoration ceremony, AA's photographs showing the events of July 15 were exhibited.
On the other hand, after the evening prayer, Mevlit was read to the souls of the July 15 martyrs at the Murat Pasha Mosque in the Old Skopje Bazaar.