His Excellency Ahmed bin Salman Al Musallam, Speaker of the Council of Representatives, Our Guest of Honour

Excellencies, Dear Colleagues,
Distinguished Guests,

Saygıdeğer Vatandaşlarımız,

It is a great honour to welcome you all this evening on behalf of myself and the Embassy of the Republic of Türkiye in Manama, as we celebrate the 102^nd Anniversary of the Proclamation of the Turkish Republic.

Tonight, we commemorate a turning point in our history, a moment when a nation, rising from the ashes of war, embraced freedom, sovereignty and dignity under the leadership of Ghazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.

Over the past 102 years, Türkiye has grown into a dynamic, confident and forward-looking nation. It is a bridge between continents, cultures and civilizations and a steadfast advocate for peace, dialogue and human dignity.

As we celebrate tonight, we honour all who devoted their lives to this vision, our martyrs, our veterans and the generations who carried the torch of the Republic into the future.

Distinguished Guests,

The year 2025 continues to test the conscience of humanity. In many parts of the world, crises and conflicts remind us how fragile peace can be, and how essential it is to defend the principles of international law.

One of the gravest tragedies of our time unfolded in Gaza. From the very beginning, Türkiye has been at the forefront of diplomatic and humanitarian efforts to end the
genocide, facilitate the delivery of aid and restore hope for a lasting peace. We welcomed the establishment of a ceasefire.

However, we are deeply concerned about the continuing attacks on the Gaza Strip, in which civilians are still losing their lives. These attacks constitute a violation of the ceasefire, and we once again emphasize that full adherence to it is of vital importance for preserving the prospects for lasting peace.

We believe that peace in the Middle East can only be achieved through a two-state solution, based on international law and the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.

Türkiye will continue to stand with the people of Gaza, to provide humanitarian assistance, and to support every sincere initiative that upholds peace, justice and human dignity. As it has always been the case, His Excellency President Recep Tayyip ErdoğanandTurkish Government with all its institutions continue their tireless efforts towards this vision.

We would like to see all our neighbours and regional countries stable and prosperous. This vision continues to guide Türkiye’s policy at home and abroad, shaping our contribution to regional stability and global peace.

Dear Guests,

Relations between Türkiye and Bahrain are built on mutual respect, shared values and the warm friendship of our peoples.

The close ties between His Excellency President Erdoğan and His Majesty King Hamad continue to guide bilateral efforts to further enhance our partnership. Under their visionary leaderships, our cooperation has grown steadily in diverse fields including politics, tourism, health, defense, education and culture.

In 2025, we have witnessed further strengthening of our bilateral relations through high-level visits. His Excellency Ahmed bin Salman Al Musallam, Speaker of the Council of Representatives visited Türkiye twice, while His Excellency Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani,Minister of Foreign Affairs, visited our country on the margins of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum 2025.

We look forward to maintaining this positive momentum in the coming period through continued high-level exchanges. We would like to expand our cooperation in all fields, especially in emerging and strategical sectors, such as defense industry.

Dear Friends,

Since I have assumed my duties as Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to the Kingdom of Bahrain, I have been deeply touched by the extraordinary warmth, hospitality, and friendshipextended to me by the Bahraini leadership, institutions and people.

From my very first day in Manama, I have felt truly at home. I am deeply impressed by this country’s culture, its spirit of tolerance and mutual respect, and the harmony
that unites its diverse society.

It is a privilege to serve in the pearl of the Gulf and to contribute to strengthening the bridge of friendship and solidaritybetween our two brotherly nations.

I would like to express my deepest appreciation to:

-His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa,

-His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa,Crown Prince and Prime Minister,

-His Excellency Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani , Minister of Foreign Affairs,

and all Bahraini authorities for their steadfast support.

I also extend my sincere thanks to my dedicated colleagues at the Embassy, whose tireless efforts made this event possible.

And finally, my gratitude goes to the Police Band, Diplomat Radisson Blu Hotel,Sharif Group and the Turkish restaurants in Bahrainfor their valuable contributions to this evening’s celebration.

May the timeless spirit of our Republic continue to enlighten our path for centuries to come.