Ambassadors of New Zealand and Australia,

Secretary General of the MFA, Mr. Paul Huijts,

Vice Admiral Boots, Deputy Chief of Defence of the Netherlands,

Your Excellencies,

Representatives of the Turkish, Australian and New Zealand communities,

Esteemed Guests,

Good morning,

As a family who have lost their family members in the Çanakkale War, and as bearer of the Gallipoli Star Medal from my grandfather, I have the honour to read the address of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder and first President of the Republic of Türkiye, to mothers of all the fallen in Gallipoli;

“Those heroes who shed their blood and lost their lives.

You are now lying in the soil of a friendly country. Therefore, rest in peace.

There is no difference between the Johnnies and the Mehmets to us where they lie side by side here in this country of ours.

You, the mothers who sent their sons from faraway countries, wipe away your tears; your sons are now lying in our bosom, and are in peace. After having lost their lives on this land they have become our sons as well…”

Thank you. We shall remember them.