On May 19th Turkey commemorates the founder of the republic, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. Officially, the country celebrates the day of Youth and Sports, however for many the day is devoted to commemorating Turkey's struggle for independence and democracy.
Both Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the leader of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu attended a state ceremony in Ankara, Hurriyet Daily News reports.
Turkish ministers also participated in May 19 celebrations around the country. Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek went to the southeastern province of Batman, Foreign Minister Professor Ahmet Davutoğlu joined celebrations in the Central Anatolian province of Konya, State Minister Zafer Çağlayan and Agriculture Minister Mehdi Eker went to Mersin and Diyarbakır.
