As Erdogan defended the view that the concept of secularism was open to change, President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said in his message that secularism was the core of the Reform of Ataturk.
During the meeting attended also by Chie of Staff General Hilmi Ozkok and other officials, President Sezer said that, “The Turkish Republic has based its modernization efforts led by Ataturk, on secularism, which is the core of the Ataturk reforms , the pillar of the national unity and the most important guarantee of social peace. To meet the changing conditions of the world, and to remain contemporary all the time, is the essence of the Kemalist thought. ..Ataturk is the monument of our national pride and free and creative thought. The duty of all of us, to protect the biggest work, the Republic and to adopt and have adopt its philosophy. “
