Marking 89th anniversary of Amasya declaration, Gul and Erdogan call for unity and solidarity

President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday released separate messages marking the 89th anniversary of the 1919 Amasya Declaration, which called for the Turkish people to resist the occupation of foreign powers and played a key role in the War of Independence and subsequent foundation of the Turkish Republic. In his message, referring to the struggle for national independence from that time, Gul said, "If the Turkish people maintain their unity and solidarity, they can overcome all problems, as in the past." In his message, Erdogan said, "Turkey is now closer to the ideals of the republic than ever before. The Turkish people have proven many times in the past that if they maintain their solidarity and unity, they can overcome all difficulties."