ANKARA

Mustafa Kemal Ataturk is a leader who embodied the ideal of full independence of the Turkish nation, the speaker of the country's parliament said in a message on Wednesday to mark the 83rd anniversary of the passing of Turkey's founder.

“He [Ataturk] and his fellow fighters not only entrusted a homeland to their next generations, but also left a national ideal and a national will for which we are willing to lay down our lives,” Mustafa Sentop said in a statement.

He asserted that the Turkish nation will continue “to walk with determination until eternity on the path of a fully independent and great Turkey.”

Ataturk led Turkish forces in the War of Independence that started on May 15, 1919, and culminated with the establishment of the Republic of Turkey on Oct. 29, 1923.

He became Turkey’s first president and served as its leader until his death at the age of 57 on Nov. 10, 1938. ​​​​​​​