On the anniversary of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk's arrival in Erzurum, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Hacımüftüoğlu, the Rector of Atatürk University, issued a message. In his remarks, Rector Hacımüftüoğlu stated:

 The arrival of Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of our Republic, in the city on 3 July 1919 to attend the Erzurum Congress was a historic turning point that altered the fate of not only a city but also a nation.. The arrival of Mustafa Kemal Pasha, the hero of Anafartalar who led the National Struggle, to Erzurum as the Inspector of the 3rd Army was one of the spiritual and strategic launching points of our journey towards independence.

 The residents of Ilıca greeted Mustafa Kemal Pasha with great enthusiasm and patriotism, and he responded, "What is there that this nation cannot accomplish?" The spirit of the National Struggle was nourished by the ardent love of independence of Erzurum and the Dadaş people, as this statement clearly demonstrates. The consultations he conducted, the decisions he made, and, most importantly, the measures he took to determine the fate of our nation through the Erzurum Congress during his stay in Erzurum, ignited a torch of hope in the occupied lands of Anatolia.

 The cornerstone of the Republic of Turkey, where we currently reside in freedom, was the decision made at the Erzurum Congress that "The parts of the homeland within the national borders are a whole and cannot be separated from each other." This decision was not only a call to resistance, but also a representation of a nation's determination to shape its own destiny.

 As it has been throughout history, Erzurum remains a symbol of national unity and solidarity, as well as of affection for the sacrosanct homeland. The high character of the Turkish nation and the unique position of Erzurum in the National Struggle are encapsulated by the words of Mustafa Kemal Pasha, who stated, "The sincerity, bravery, and loyalty I saw here strengthened my determination and resolve to make every sacrifice necessary to save my country."

 I recall Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and all the heroes of the National Struggle with mercy, gratitude, and appreciation on this occasion. May their spirits rest in serenity and their legacy be in good hands.❞

 Professor Dr. Ahmet HACIMÜFTÜOĞLU Rector