MESSAGE OF MINISTER BAGIS ON JEWISH HANNUKAH FEAST

The third meeting of the Financial Cooperation Coordination Board which was established to monitor and evaluate the general functioning of the Turkish-EU financial cooperation process, was held at the Ministry for EU Affairs under the chairmanship of Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis and with the participation of the high representatives of the Ministries which are the members of the Board. 

In his speech, Minister Bagis indicated that Turkey was one of the countries which benefited the most from the EU funds and that half of the 10 billion-Euro budget designated for the candidate and potential candidate countries for the 2012-2013 period was allocated to Turkey.

Indicating that whole amount of money should be used effectively, Bagis emphasized that 4 million euro would be used for Van, where the recent earthquake occurred. Bagis stated that 4 million euro was allocated for preventing bribery and strengthening public ethics and that nearly 40 million euro was allocated for improving border security and removing the mines at the border area.

In the meeting, general evaluations were made regarding 5 different components of the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) 2007-2013, and accreditation processes of the Ministries responsible for the execution of the Operational Programs and the financial assistance allocated under those 5 components, increasing the capacity of the application of the funds for 2011-2012 and the strategic steps to be taken were discussed in detail.Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis released a written message on the occasion of Hannukah Feast of Jewish citizens in Turkey. 

In his message Minister Bagis said:

“I would like to celebrate Hannukah, the Jewish festival of lights, and I believe that this feast would contribute to our peace and solidarity.

Our Jewish people have been one of the fundamental components of our society for centuries.

The relation among Turkish and Jewish people is a very good example of mutual understanding, harmony and co-existence today.

The Jewish community has contributed to the development of our country in terms of economy, trade, science and culture throughout the history and continues to do so.

We hope this friendship towards attaining peace and tolerance, would give inspiration to the international society and especially to those poisoned minds trying to go back to the Europe of 1930’s.

Unfortunately, today the European Union is facing the danger of being besieged by racist minds that are unable to internalize the real value of the EU and pursue the fascist methods of 1930s.

Those efforts that sow seeds of hate and that deepen this process rather than reverting it are always condemned to be excluded and to fail.

With its rich civilization that have shed light on humanity for centuries through the understanding of  “love the created for the sake of the creator”, Turkey will continue to sow seeds of peace and fight with the seeds of hate in determination.

Indeed it was this philanthropy that welcomed the Jewish people who were forced to make a choice between their beliefs and lives in 1492.

Likewise, our people have hosted many Jews who run away from the inhumane treatment in Nazi Germany during the Second World War.

Today it is obvious that our Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s approach that acknowledges anti-Semitism as a crime against humanity is the most significant reaction to those poisoned minds.

Turkish society has always avoided xenophobia and anti-Semitisms. Our people have always welcomed the Jews and recognized them as a natural component of our society.

On the occasion of Hannukah, we would like to reiterate once more that Turkey’s EU accession would be a symbolic example for the alliance of civilizations and coexistence of differences in the 21st century.

The word “Hannukah” means “to dedicate” in Turkish. I would like celebrate Hannukah, the Jewish festival of lights, and I believe that this feast would shed light on an ideal world dedicated to peace and humanity.