Former President Inonu remembered

The ceremony was co-hosted by Inonu’s son, Erdal Inonu, Toker’s daughter a deputy from Ankara Gulsum Bilgehan and her husband Mustafa in the historic Pink Palace.

All three halls in the palace were full of visitors, including former minister Prof. Cafer Tayyar Sadiklar, Sami Turk, Osman Olcay, Murat Karayalcin, Fikret Unlu, Presidential Secretary Kemal Nevruzoglu, Council of State Chairman Nuri Alan, former secretary of the National Security Council retired general Tuncer Kilinc, retired general Nurhan Aydinalp, banker Mehmet Bucukoglu and their spouses, Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and Republican People’s Party (CHP) deputies and foundation members. The surprise guest was Turkey’s Ambassador to Washington Faruk Lologlu.

Toker, during her short speech, said that she was very proud of being Inonu’s daughter. Inonu served his country as a victorious military commander, statesman, a member of the opposition and the ruling party and was always respected by all.

She noted that the 80th anniversary of the signing of the Lausanne Treaty was also the 30th anniversary of her father’s death, adding that the book had been published with the importance of the treaty in mind.

Assistant Professor Cagri Erkan, speaking at the ceremony, said that the book was completed after three years of work by five of his colleagues from Ankara University’s Political Science Faculty. He said works previously published were interpreted from today’s perspective, adding that at a time when globalization propaganda was made around the world, they had once more realized the importance of being a nation-state.