Turkey celebrates 100th anniversary of republic with fireworks and navy procession

By SUZAN FRASER
Associated Press

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey has marked the 100th anniversary of the creation of the modern, secular republic from the ruins of the Ottoman Empire with little pageantry and no gala reception to commemorate the important milestone. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government has opted for a low-key celebration, which comes months after a devastating earthquake killed 50,000 people and coincides with the Israeli-Hamas war. The subdued affair, however, has dismayed many in Turkey who believe Erdogan’s government is trying to undermine the legacy of the republic’s founding father, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. In his speech Erdogan highlighted his government’s achievements in the past 20 years but also expressed gratitude to Ataturk and others who helped create the republic.