There are certain turning points in our country's history. Even if these turning points are difficult, the nation overcomes them and emerges stronger through the solidarity and unity of its people. One of these turning points is the Erzurum Congress.

Atatürk arrived in Samsun on May 19, 1919. On Wednesday, May 28, 1919, he published the Havza Circular. This circular was the first cry announcing the resistance to the whole world and to our people. Subsequently, the Amasya Circular was drafted on June 21-22, 1919. The circular was telegraphed to all governorships on June 22. It was now time for congresses to be held with the participation of representatives from broad segments of the public. The Erzurum Congress convened on July 23, 1919. Here, let us give the floor to the Great Savior.

“Gentlemen, as you are well aware, the Erzurum Congress convened on July 23, 1919, in a very modest school hall. On the first day, they elected me as president. In my statement, made to enlighten the Congress delegation about the situation and, to some extent, my views:

I pointed out that no patriot could be imagined who would not see the bloody and dark dangers into which we had actually fallen, driven by history and events, and who would not be moved by them. I spoke of the aggressions and occupations carried out contrary to the provisions of the armistice. I stated that history can never deny the existence and rights of a nation, and therefore, the judgments rendered against our homeland and nation were certainly doomed to failure.

I expressed that the force that would have the final say and implement its judgment in saving and protecting the sacred values of the homeland and the nation was the heroic spirit of the national current, which had become an electrical network throughout the entire country. (Gazi Mustafa Kemal, Nutuk, Kaynak Yayınları, Third Edition: November 2016, p. 72)” In this speech, Atatürk strongly emphasized that the homeland and the nation are sacred. He clearly articulated the reasons for the dangerous situation our country was in. With the phrase “national current,” he explained how national unity gained strength for liberation.

“And to help strengthen moral power, I summarized some existing information regarding the activities of all oppressed nations – in the history we were living through – to achieve their national sacred values. (Same work, p. 72)” Starting from the Erzurum Congress, Atatürk speaks of solidarity and unity with “all oppressed nations.” This is an announcement to both the nation and the entire world about the alliances in which the War of Independence and the subsequent Republic of Turkey would be formed. Mustafa Kemal Pasha, in making this determination, did not look at which regime or by whom the “oppressed nations” were governed. His aim was to establish the broadest possible alliance against imperialism. Because this is the path to success.

“And I declared that a national will, dominant over this destiny, could only emerge in Anatolia, and I showed the establishment of a national council based on national will and the formation of a government that would derive its power from the national will as the primary objective of our work. (Same work, p. 72)” In this section, Atatürk’s words “national will” and “national council” are noteworthy. With these words, he speaks of the will and decision of the nation, not the sultan. With the phrase “national council,” he emphasizes that the country’s future would not be determined by the sultan’s whim, but by decisions made by representatives of the people gathering together. In short, he clearly states that parliamentary rule would replace the sultanate.

Gazi Pasha wanted the formation of “a government that would derive its power from the national will.” Doesn't this statement imply that the sultanate would be sidelined?

Some say that the declaration of the Republic was a fait accompli. When looking at the decisions of the Amasya Circular and the Erzurum Congress, it is stated that the nation was decisive for the liberation of our country from the enemy. It is the nation, not the sultanate, that will save the nation; and it is the nation that will save the sultanate. What else could this be but a republic?

Unfortunately, in recent years, some in our country either do not understand what they read or do not want to understand it. For this reason, they resort to distorting historical events and facts. This brings them to the point of betraying their homeland and nation. For some reason, they believe the lies of the enemies rather than what those who saved our country, especially Atatürk, said. Whatever they do, they will not be able to plaster over the sun with mud.

May the 107th anniversary of the Erzurum Congress, an important step on the path to liberation, be auspicious for all our citizens.

                                               

Adil Hacıömeroğlu