― 26 января 2024 г.

Statue of Ataturk raised at the outskirts of Tian Shen Mountains

The memorial  statue of Atatürk, the immortal leader of the Turkic World, was raised in Almaty, the cultural capital of Kazakhstan at the foothill of  Alatau (Tian Shen Mountains).

The inaugural ceremony of the memorial statue raised in commemoration of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Republic of Türkiye, gathered the  Minister of Culture and Information of Kazakhstan Mrs. Aida Balayeva, the Mayor of the  Metropolitan Municipality of Almaty, Mr. Yerbolat Dosayev, the Secretary General of TURKSOY Mr. Sultan Raev and the Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to Astana H. E. Mr. Mustafa Kapucu.

In the speech he delivered at the ceremony, Secretary General Sultan Raev stressed the importance of Atatürk for the Turkic World and said: "Today is a historic day in Almaty as we are inaugurating the statue of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the leader  and architect of the Turkic World. I think that this moment stands as a testimony of the  great respect of the Kazakh people for this great leader and the independence of our respective countries.

Last year we celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Türkiye. During the first years following the establishment of the Republic of Türkiye, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk had emphasised a very important issue when he predicted that kindred  peoples living in Central Asia would one day gain their independence; indeed, when that day came, the Republic of Türkiye was the first state  to recognise and congratulate these countries when they declared their independence. In those years when the Republic of Türkiye was founded, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk emphasised a very important issue, predicting that the brotherly peoples living in Central Asia would one day gain their independence, and that the Republic of Turkey would be the first to congratulate them when that day came. Indeed, the Republic of Türkiye was the first country to recognise and congratulate these countries when they declared their independence.

As you know, Turkic States came together in Astana. During this meeting, the President of the Republic of  Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said we are living in a new era, namely the Era of the Turkic World which stands for new changes. This statement of Mr Tokayev is very important for us and I think that it will lead to the strengthening of the Turkic world through closer ties within its countries.

Speaking on behalf of  TURKSOY, I would like to say that it was founded 30 years ago here in Almaty.This is the land where TURKSOY, which serves the culture of the Turkic World, was born. Hence, it is  to be emphasised that Kazakhstan is undoubtedly one of the most important countries of the Turkic World and the opening of this statue today is a proof of this statement. This statue will be the symbol of the Turkic World. May the independence of the Turkic World last forever."

The Minister of Culture and Information of Kazakhstan Mrs.  Aida Balayeva who also took the floor at the ceremony stressed that the order to raise this statue was given by the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Mr. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev during the visit of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to Kazakhstan in honour of the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Türkiye and said: "Thanks to our heads of states, relations between Kazakhstan and Türkiye have reached a new level and are now developing dynamically in all areas. Cultural ties are becoming the golden bridge of cooperation between our two kindred countries. In the history of Türkiye, great importance has always been attached to the founder of the modern Turkish state. Ataturk's reforms in the fields of  politics, culture, economy and social issues have not only transformed the Republic of Türkiye into today's secular nation-state but are also further continuing to contribute to the development of the country."

The 3-metre-high bronze statue sculpted by Aidos Burkitbayev and Timur Burkitbayev stands on  a granite base and is located in the Ataturk Park which was inaugurated last year on the Al-Farabi Boulevard in Almaty.