The resistance of July 15 is unprecedented in the history of world democracy

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gestures as he delivers a speech during a rally honoring the victims of the July 15, 2016 failed coup attempt, in Istanbul, Monday, July 15, 2019. [AP]

One of the most brutal coup attempts in Turkey’s political history took place exactly ten years ago, on July 15, 2016. Orchestrated by a terrorist network that had insidiously infiltrated our state institutions, this attempted coup aimed to plunge Turkey into years of chaos and subjugate the future of our nation. By defending its independence and its future against the putschists, our august nation affirmed to the whole world, through its heroic resistance, that the will of the people can never be subjugated on these lands. Undoubtedly, the prudence, courage and foresight of the Turkish nation on the night of July 15 are also unprecedented in the history of world democracy.

This treacherous insurgency led by the Fetullahist Terrorist Organization (FETO) was much more than a conventional coup attempt; it was a widespread act of invasion directed against the independence of our country. The main targets of the coup plotters were the iconic institutions that embody the national will and independence of our nation, namely the Presidential Complex and the Grand National Assembly of Turkey. On the night of July 15, I emphasized in my public statement that I had never recognized any power greater than that of the people. I made this statement with full confidence that the Turkish nation would firmly defend its own will. Indeed, that very night, our people took to the streets with unwavering faith and determination, refusing to submit to the domination of this terrorist organization. Risking their lives to defend the independence of their country, its democratic achievements and its free will, our nation repelled the putschists and wrote an epic of national will that future generations will remember with pride.

Inspired by our nation’s courageous stand, we acted quickly to eliminate all negative consequences of this treacherous insurrection. We quickly introduced comprehensive structural reforms to eliminate from all state institutions any anti-democratic formation that could threaten democratic governance through extra-political means. We then achieved crucial results through operations both domestically and abroad as part of our strategy to eliminate the other terrorist organizations we are fighting. Finally, we launched the Terror-Free Türkiye initiative, opening a new chapter in our nation’s history of unity and solidarity. This process, one of the essential cornerstones of our vision of the “Century of Turkey”, is – Praise be to Allah – moving firmly towards its destination with a comprehensive and inclusive approach thanks to the diligence of our security forces and the support of the political establishment. I believe that the success of the “Terror-Free Turkey” process will contribute not only to the peace and tranquility of our country, but also to that of our region.

Through our fight against those who attempted this coup and who also targeted our country’s economic prosperity and development, we have taken significant steps towards a more prosperous future through the projects we have launched in sectors such as energy, transportation, health, agriculture, technology and defense. Through the National Technology Move, we have made significant progress in the defense, aviation and space sectors over the past decade. We have developed electric and intelligent transportation systems and, with substantial investments in the health and agricultural sectors, we have strived to live up to the sacrifices of our people. During this process, we have also developed our branded products, which have gained global recognition. Among these, our electric automobile, the TOGG; our national combat aircraft, the KAAN; our national corvettes; and our unmanned aerial vehicles are the first that come to mind.

On the other hand, over the past decade, Turkey has become an effective actor in resolving crises and conflicts at regional and global levels, guided by an enterprising foreign policy approach. In all crisis regions, we have not hesitated to shoulder the responsibility of maintaining peace and tranquility by supporting the oppressed and the righteous rather than the powerful. Wherever there is oppression or injustice, we have been the voice of international law, justice and conscience. If Turkey is now considered a country whose contribution is sought, whose word has weight and which is consulted on regional and global issues, behind this success lies the will of our august nation, which defended its independence and its future at the cost of its life on the night of July 15.

The fight against terrorism, in which international cooperation is essential, retains a prominent place on our foreign policy agenda. As everyone knows, the process of internal disintegration within FETO’s overseas network has accelerated over the past two years. That said, we are aware that some countries secretly support this organization and harbor its members. I would like to take this opportunity to emphasize the need to remain vigilant against FETO, which considers all possible means to achieve its ambitions, adopts all possible appearances and does not hesitate to exploit all concepts, including democracy, freedom and human rights. As a nation that saw 253 of its sons and daughters martyred by the coup plotters on the night of July 15, our main expectation from the global community is to support Turkey’s legitimate struggle. Global peace, security and prosperity can only be achieved through a resolute and uncompromising fight against terrorist organizations without any distinction and through sincere cooperation.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan is President of the Republic of Türkiye.