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Hisham Aljundi
Doha
TURKISH Embassy in Doha marked the first anniversary of the failed coup attempt in Turkey and remembered the martyrs who sacrificed their lives defending the country's democracy. Several diplomats and prominent personalities attended the event which aimed to uphold the values of democracy.
"This heinous coup attempt was an act of treason targeting our national values, democratic and economic achievements and our foreign policy," Turkish Ambassador to Qatar HE Fikret Ozer said at the event which was also attended by a number of the Turkish diplomats, community members and Turkish military officers in Qatar.
The attendees observed a minute of silence in memory of the martyrs of the failed coup attempt.
"It was the whole Turkish nation that rose up against the plot. Our fellow citizens showed historical resilience and solidarity as they hit the streets and took up the challenge. Soldiers who fired on innocent civilians had to lay down their weapons and the coup attempt had thus failed," Ozer added.
The Turkish ambassador highlighted the strong relations between Qatar and Turkey and compared the ongoing blockade against Qatar to the failed coup attempt in Turkey.
"We know our friends who stood with us during our crisis and it is our pleasure and duty to stand with them during their hard time," Ozer said."While some countries withheld their reactions until the coup attempt had absolutely failed, we remember with gratitude Qatar's swift reaction and resolute stance in support of the democratically elected government of Turkey," Ozer added.
A number of guests at the event expressed their gratitude towards Qatar for helping Turkey during the coup attempt. Ramazan Yilmaz, Deputy Head of the Turkish Institute in Doha, said he is so grateful for Qatar and Qatari people who showed solidarity with and stood by Turkey during the crisis on July 15, 2016.
