EGEMEN BAGIS ISSUES A MESSAGE TO ORTHODOX WORLD FOR CHRISTMAS

Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis issued a written message to Orthodox world for Christmas.

In his message, Bagis indicated the following:

I would like to extend my best wishes to Orthodox Christians who celebrate Christmas today, according to the Julian calendar and hope humanity’s longing for peace and welfare would come to an end.

That Christmas is being celebrated with more enthusiasm by our Christian citizens each year is an indication of the strong brotherhood in our lands.

For the last 10 years, as the Government we have been trying hard to strengthen this brotherhood and reinforce this atmosphere of unity.

The reforms we have carried out within the European Union process is the concrete manifestation of our determination.

Our only aim is to base the unity and fraternity among diverse religious groups living in our country on a foundation of democracy and freedom.

Fortunately, the determination we have been showing for the past 10 years under the leadership of our Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is now being appreciated by different belief groups and Turkey’s determination for democracy has a stronger reverberations.

We do not dwell in the language of the past, don’t accept any taboos and we have actualized a Turkey where all the issues can be clearly and couragesly discussed.

Our determination and the pace of our reform agenda that has left behind even the EU countries, has brought with it the historic steps to solve the issues of different belief groups.

The return of the properties of the Foundations that were confiscated since 1936, the revival of the Soumela monastery after 88 years and of the Akhdamar after 112 years and the continuous and the steady dialogue with different religious groups are all indicators of our Government’s determination.

While striving to keep our EU perspective alive, we will continue to improve our country’s democratic standards without compromising our determination in the reforms

We will persevere in our struggle against the administrations who not only impede Turkey’s membership but also harm EU’s interests with their screwed politics that lacks vision. I would like to take this opportunity to extend my warmest wishes to the Greek Cypriots on their celebration of Christmas.

It is with these sentiments and considerations that I extend my warmest wishes to the Christian world on occasion of Christmas celebrations and hope Christmas to bring happiness and peace to the world.