The UK’s Minister for Europe, Sir Alan Duncan, will join other world leaders in Istanbul to mark Turkish Republic Day.

The most important day in the year for Turkey, it marks the proclamation of the Turkish Republic by the Turkish Grand National Assembly on 29 October 1923.

Today (28 October), the Minister will also attend the opening ceremony of Istanbul’s new airport. The airport will replace Istanbul Ataturk and contribute to Istanbul’s role as one of the world’s leading transit hubs.

Sir Alan will join Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Mevlut Çavuşoğlu at the ceremony, as well as meeting Deputy Foreign Minister Ambassador Faruk Kaymakçı.

Ahead of the visit, the Minister for Europe Sir Alan Duncan said:

This is a truly historic moment for Turkey – celebrating its Republic day at the same time as opening a brand new international airport – and I’m proud to be representing the UK in Istanbul.

Turkey has always been, and will continue to be, a close ally and friend of the UK.

Further information

• Follow Foreign Office Minister Sir Alan Duncan on Twitter @AlanDuncanMP

• Follow the Foreign Office on Twitter @foreignoffice and Facebook

• President Steinmeier will attend Remembrance Sunday Service in an historic act of reconciliation to mark the centenary of the end of the First World War
• He will become the first German leader to lay a wreath at the Cenotaph ceremony before later attending a service at Westminster Abbey

The German President will attend the UK’s commemorations for the centenary of the end of the First World War on Remembrance Sunday.

President Frank-Walter Steinmeier will lay a wreath at the Cenotaph on behalf of the German people in an historic act of reconciliation.

It will be the first time a German leader will lay a wreath at the ceremony. The act marks the significance of the centenary, 100 years after the guns fell silent on the Western Front after four years of war.

Prime Minister Theresa May said:

Remembrance Sunday gives all of us the chance to come together and remember the immense sacrifices made in war.

I look forward to welcoming President Steinmeier to this year’s ceremony where we will remember all the fallen and give thanks for peace. His attendance to lay a wreath at the Cenotaph shows the significance of this event, 100 years after the end of the First World War.

President Steinmeier will also attend a Service at Westminster Abbey on the Sunday evening. The 2,000 guests will pay tribute to all those who came home and helped to build the world we live in today.

Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright said:

I am pleased that on this most important of days, we can come together with our German friends to mark reconciliation and the peace that exists between our two nations today. It is part of a fitting finale of our four year commemoration of the First World War Centenary.

Remembrance Sunday will mark the culmination of the Government’s First World War centenary programme. Over the past four years, the German State has been represented at all commemorative events including those to mark the Battles of Jutland, the Somme and Amiens.