Peace main theme in Turkish leaders’ Eid messages

ANKARA

‘I wish Muslims would not kill other Muslims in next Eids,’ Kılıçdaroğlu says. DAILY NEWS photo

Messages marking the Eid al-Adha, or Feast of the Sacrifice, offered an opportunity for Turkey’s leaders to convey their hopes of unity and peace for Turkey as well as for the Middle East.

President Abdullah Gül wished for an end to the ongoing agony and sorrow in the whole world, including Turkey’s nearby geography in his Eid al-Adha message.

Turkey is looking to the future with great self-confidence and hope, Gül said, adding that the continuation of the reform process with determination would pave the way for Turkey’s development.

“What is important is to spend our energy according to the expectations of our people. We have very important advantages including the necessary will, opportunities and political stability among others to resolve our problems together. All we need is to understand each other, respect the differences among us, protect our union and solidarity under every condition and have full trust in ourselves, our nation and our state,” Gül said.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, for his part, spoke of the democratization package he recently announced in his Eid al-Adha Message.

“We have announced the democratization package a short time ago as the continuation of our steps for our national unity and fraternity. With this study, we aim to provide unity and integrity again and to strengthen our Republic and crown it with advanced democracy. Our main objective is to relieve the wounds of our nation. We intend to build a great Turkey again with our brothers whom we established this homeland together with,” Erdoğan said.

The main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, meanwhile, said they had bittersweet happiness for Eid al-Adha since Turkey and the Middle East had substantial problems.
“I wish there would be peace, freedom, justice and democracy in our country, in our region and in our world. I wish Muslims would not kill other Muslims in the next Eids [to come],” Kılıçdaroğlu said in his message.

The Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli warned people against “plots and provocations” in his Eid al-Adha message.

“We don’t have any option other than being awake and conscious against separatism discrimination considering that our language and identity are being attacked and being sacrificed to the separatist and destructive aims. We should be aware of all kinds of plots and provocations,” Bahçeli said. “I wish our brothers in the Islamic world, which faces disorder and chaos at the moment, would find peace soon,” he added.