Ambassador Charles Ssentongo, Director General for Protocol
Excellencies, Dear Colleagues,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

I would like to extend a warm welcome to you all.

Today is the eight anniversary of one of the darkest chapters in modern Türkiye’s history.
Eight years ago, our country’s peace was violently broken. We were shocked to learn that some units within the military had attempted to overthrow the democratically elected government.

We have never witnessed such savagery and treachery in our history as the one exhibited by the perpetrators of this coup attempt: Tanks were driven to the streets to mow down innocent civilians. Our Parliament Building, the Presidential complex, the building of the National Intelligence Organization, buildings of the Turkish National Police, the Headquarters of the Police Special Operations were bombed by our own helicopters and jets.

The Fetullahist traitors disguised as soldiers did not shy away from bombing their own people.
It has not been possible to reach the bodies of fifty-one police officers who were martyred as a result of intense bombing that targeted the Police Special Operations Department Headquarters in Ankara. May Allah rest their souls in peace.

Dear guests,

From the very beginning, the command chain and the vast majority of the Turkish Armed Forces and Turkish Police Forces stand up against this heinous coup attempt.

Above all, Turkish Nation, under the leadership of His Excellency President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, as a whole stood up against this plot and heroically defended Turkish democracy against the plotters. They stood bravely in front of the tanks and reclaimed their democratic rights. In fact, it was the people of Türkiye from all backgrounds and political views who thwarted the plot. They displayed a historic solidarity and defended their democracy.

That night, two hundred and fifty-two Turkish citizens were killed and more than two thousand people were injured. In the light of all these, 15th of July is designated as one of the national memorial days of Türkiye under the name of “Democracy and National Unity Day”. We commemorate our beloved martyrs who sacrificed their lives for Turkish democracy and the constitutional order of Türkiye.

We are convinced that this spirit will propel Türkiye forward and establish the foundation for shaping our country’s bright future.

Dear Friends,

It has been clearly demonstrated through the confessions and revelations made within the organization that the July 15 treacherous coup attempt was organized by FETO. Despite this fact, many members of this cult network still do not accept this simple truth.

In the past eight years, the fight against FETO both inside and outside Türkiye has constituted one of the main priorities of our State.

This secretive cult organization is now focusing its efforts on regrouping its followers outside
Türkiye. Therefore, the fight against FETO structures abroad has been among the top priorities of us.

This secretive and clandestine cult terrorist organization continue to use all universal values for their own purposes and still runs, so-called schools and other types of income-generating establishments in many countries, unfortunately, including Uganda. The money collected through these entities supports its illegal, clandestine and subversive activities. These opportunistic and corrupt elements continue to pose a danger to all societies abroad that have ties with our country.

Therefore, as a victim of FETO terrorism, we feel compelled to warn our friends about this invisible but very real threat. Failure to take measures against FETO-affiliated structures can be a costly mistake. As a matter of fact, many countries have seen this threat posed by this secretive espionage network and they either ended or greatly reduced FETO presence in their territory.

We will vigorously continue our efforts to demonstrate and prove the fact that FETO also poses a threat to the security of other countries where it remains active.

The international community is gradually understanding that FETO is not a social movement that engages with education and charity, contrary to the way it tries to portray itself, but rather a dark and insidious criminal organization with political and economic ambitions. With your permission I would like to share a few words with my fellow citizens in Turkish language

Dear guests,

Our efforts for fully eliminating the structures of FETO abroad constitutes a long-term fight.
The Turkish Government will resolutely maintain its efforts in that regard.

This year’s theme for our commemoration activities has been declared as “Victory of the Nation”. We prepared a small exhibition at our Embassy with this theme as part of the 15 July Democracy and National Unity Day. I kindly invite you to have a look at this exhibition following the completion of program.

We commemorate once again with gratitude our martyrs who gave their lives in that historical night to protect the democracy, sovereignty and independency of Turkish Nation and we wish healthy and long life for our veterans.

May “Allah” rest our Martyrs’ souls in peace.

Thank you.