Edited by Anna Popper
On the occasion of the 102nd Anniversary of the Proclamation of the Republic of Türkiye, Her Excellency Ms. Gülşen Karanis Ekşioğlu, Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to Hungary, and her spouse, Mr. Ekrem Ekşioğlu, hosted a festive reception at the Museum of Fine Arts in Budapest. The iconic building, one of the city’s most esteemed cultural institutions, was illuminated in the vibrant red of the Turkish flag – an eye-catching tribute to the historic celebration.
The event welcomed over 800 distinguished guests, including representatives from Hungary’s political, economic, cultural, and academic spheres; members of the diplomatic corps; the Turkish community; and many friends of Türkiye. Mr. Balázs Hankó, Hungarian Minister of Culture and Innovation, was the Guest of Honour on this special occasion.
The celebration began with the national anthems of Türkiye and Hungary, performed by the students of the Budapest Maarif International School.
It continued with an address by Ambassador Ekşioğlu, who highlighted the foundations, progress, and future vision of the Republic of Türkiye:
“Honourable Minister, Excellencies, Distinguished Guests, Welcome to our National Day Reception!
Today we celebrate the founding of the Republic of Türkiye. After a long and costly national struggle, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk laid the foundations of a modern and democratic country in 1923. And on this special day, the Grand National Assembly declared the form of government as a Republic.
The founding principle of the new state is still inscribed on the wall in our Parliament: ‘Sovereignty unconditionally belongs to the nation.’
As a matter of fact, when the Speaker of the Turkish Parliament, Mr. Numan Kurtulmuş recently visited Budapest in September, he echoed, together with his Hungarian counterpart Mr. László Kövér, the very same principles cherished by both nations: national sovereignty and independence.
In his inaugural speech as President, Atatürk heralded a new era by declaring:
‘The Republic of Türkiye shall claim its place in the community of nations with its achievements.’
Over the last 102 years, Türkiye has made significant strides in the economy, democracy, and foreign policy, paving the way for an ambitious new vision: the “Century of Türkiye”.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
two years ago, when I delivered my speech in this very venue on the centenary of the Republic of Türkiye, I announced with great enthusiasm the unfolding of a new era for Turkish–Hungarian relations.
This was soon followed by President Erdoğan’s seminal visit and the upgrading of our cooperation to an enhanced strategic partnership. His Excellency then returned to Budapest for the European Political Community and Organization of Turkic States summits.
In 2024, we celebrated the Turkish–Hungarian Cultural Year, reaching an audience of one million people with over 114 events in 14 cities. This memorable journey took us across Hungary, where we visited beautiful places and met wonderful people. We even rediscovered our own diplomatic history.
The exhibition you passed through is a repeated version from last year, prepared with the Budapest City Archives to reveal our diplomatic presence in Budapest – from the Ottoman consulate to the Turkish legation. It showcases fascinating stories: for example, the Ottoman consul who donated his wealth to the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, and Hungarian Prime Minister Miklós Kállay who sought refuge in the embassy building for about nine months during World War II.
The Cultural Year also reminded us of our cultural affinity, as highlighted 90 years ago by the Hungarian composer Béla Bartók (1881–1945) and his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Adnan Saygun (1907–1991), while exploring the shared roots of our folk music.
I would like to thank the Turkish–Hungarian Quartet, led by Marta Abraham and Mevsim Engin, who will soon delight us with works by Bartók and Saygun.
Dear Friends, on a personal note, the Cultural Year concluded with a humbling moment: I was decorated with an Order of Merit by the Hungarian State. What a great honour for a serving ambassador, and what a great responsibility to uphold the high expectations that follow! Fortunately, I have the privilege of serving at a time when our bilateral relations are deep, dynamic, and multifaceted.
This year, we continued with another thematic collaboration: the Turkish–Hungarian Year of Science and Innovation, which focuses on our shared future. We brought together research institutes, universities, and actors from both the public and private sectors for 32 projects covering areas from digitalization and artificial intelligence to the competitiveness of SMEs.
Our scientific and technological research councils issued a call for joint projects and funded 14 further proposals. We also established the Defence Innovation Working Group to advance our defence industry cooperation.
Our energy collaboration has gained momentum. Türkiye now exports natural gas to Hungary, and is proudly represented across the entire energy spectrum, from solar to nuclear power. For instance, the Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) is exploring hydrocarbons in partnership with the MOL Group. A leading Turkish company has also won the tender to develop a state-of-the-art CCGT power plant in Tiszaújváros.
We expect another strong year for bilateral trade, likely surpassing the USD 5 billion mark with an annual growth of over 10%.
In December, our leaders will meet in Ankara for the 7th meeting of the Turkish–Hungarian High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council – held in the form of a joint cabinet session – where I am confident they will set new targets for trade.
In the 2025 Year of Science and Innovation, one of the most meaningful achievements was the inauguration of the new Maarif International School building. A historic structure that once housed a Hungarian school is now home to a new generation of students. This symbolizes the essence of Turkish–Hungarian relations: old and new, continuity and change, tradition and innovation – all flourishing within the framework of our cordial ties.
I thank the Maarif students for hosting tonight’s program and for singing the national anthems.
I would also like to express our gratitude to all the sponsors for their generous support, and to the Embassy team who worked tirelessly to make this national day celebration remarkable.
Our special thanks go to Minister Balázs Hankó – not only for being our Guest of Honour tonight, but also for the fruitful cooperation over the past two years.”
In his speech, the Guest of Honour, Minister of Culture and Innovation Balázs Hankó, conveyed sincere congratulations on behalf of the Hungarian Government on the 102 years of the Republic of Türkiye, noting that it was an honour for Hungary to celebrate this important anniversary of the birth of modern Türkiye together.
He recalled the historic Treaty of Friendship, signed on 18 December 1923 – one of the first international agreements of the newly founded Republic of Türkiye – and emphasized its enduring role as the foundation of Hungarian–Turkish relations.
The Minister highlighted the strong and steadily deepening partnership between the two countries, which goes far beyond traditional diplomacy. What unites Türkiye and Hungary, he stated, is their shared commitment to national sovereignty, cultural identity, and independent decision-making – values that continue to guide both nations today. He also praised the expanding cooperation in the fields of culture, innovation, science, and strategic sectors, stressing that this collaboration rests on mutual trust and a shared vision for the future.
Following the official program, the celebration continued with a musical performance by the Türkiye–Hungary Quartet, featuring compositions by Béla Bartók and Ahmet Adnan Saygun, two composers renowned for exploring the shared roots of Turkish and Hungarian folk music.
In the grand foyer of the museum, guests visited a special exhibition jointly curated by the Turkish Embassy and the Budapest City Archives, dedicated to the long history of Türkiye’s diplomatic missions in Hungary – from the era of the Ottoman consulate to the modern times, using archival photographs and captivating historical accounts.
The evening concluded with a reception in the magnificent Romanesque Hall, where guests enjoyed traditional Turkish gastronomy. The warm atmosphere, lively encounters, and engaging conversations offered a fitting end to a celebration honouring the enduring friendship between Türkiye and Hungary.
Honouring the Republic Through Atatürk’s Lasting Words
The Turkish nation continues to draw strength and inspiration from the spirit and profound legacy of the Republic, shaped by the vision and devotion of its founder.
On 29 October 1933, at the 10th anniversary celebration of the Turkish Republic, President Atatürk addressed the nation and concluded his powerful speech with words that remain timeless in their meaning and aspiration:
“The Turkish nation, I express my heartfelt wish that you will celebrate, after each decade elapsing into eternity, this great national day, in greater honour, happiness, peace and prosperity. How happy is the one who says, I am a Turk!”
May these enduring words forever guide the Turkish nation in pride, unity, and resolve.
President Atatürk’s voice for the entire speech was recorded and preserved, allowing future generations to hear his message exactly as it was delivered. You can listen to Atatürk’s 10th Year Speech (Onuncu Yıl Nutku) here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vq6amvhhRQ8
Source: Embassy of the Republic of Türkiye
Photos from the Embassy of the Republic of Türkiye
