The 84th anniversary of the Turkish National Day was celebrated yesterday with ceremonies throughout Turkey, at Turkish overseas facilities and in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC).

The ceremonies in Ankara kicked off with President Abdullah Gül and State dignitaries laying a wreath in Atatürk's mausoleum, Anitkabir. President Abdullah Gül signed the Anitkabir guestbook at 9:00 a.m. Following this homage and a rendition of the Turkish national anthem, "Stiklal Mari," at Anitkabir, the ceremony continued in the Atatürk Cultural Center  at the Hippodrome. As part of his agenda, the Turkish President Gül also received celebratory messages in  Parliament.

This year's celebrations have been marked by two separate Republic Day receptions. State dignitaries will attended the first reception, while businessmen, artists, journalists and representatives of non-governmental organizations have been invited to the Bosporus, lit up with laser beams.

It could be recalled that the Turkish Republic was one of the first states to have diplomatic relations with The Gambia, though earlier deep-rooted cultural and historical relations could be traced back for centuries. During the last few years, there has been noticeable development of relations between the two countries, especially in the economic, commercial and military fields.