EASTER MESSAGE OF BAGIS

Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis released a written statement on the occasion of Easter.

In his message, Egemen Bagis indicated the following:

We share the enthusiasm for and happiness of our Christian citizens celebrating Easter, one of the most important Christian festivals in the Christian community.

Indeed, as inseparable components of our country for centuries, our Christian citizens and different belief groups are continuing to contribute to the peace and harmony of Turkey.

We are grateful to all those people praying for humanity, for peace, for Turkey and for Turkey’s unity and solidarity.

Today on the occasion of Easter, we would like to once more emphasis that no one can ever break our solidarity and that no power intending to destroy our brotherhood and solidarity can prevail.

What unites us is more than what divides us, what unites us is more powerful than which divides us. History and fate have determined a common direction for us, and have made us the members of a civilization of peace and love in this region.

The fact that each of our 74 million citizens is considered as first class citizens and as a fundamental component of Turkey has to be emphasized in particular. Everyone who is a part of our country with the bond of citizenship always has a special place in our heart, regardless of all differences. We cannot accept the ‘othering’ of anyone.

In this respect we have reached the days when our citizens of different beliefs celebrate their feasts in excitement and enthusiasm, during the ruling of our Government.

We have taken serious decisions to solve the problems of our different belief groups and have put these decisions into practice during the term of our Government.

The revival of Sumela Monastery after 88 years and of Akdamar Monastery after 112 years has been a historic step.

We had already achieved a great reform with the Law on Foundations; 181 immovable properties have been returned to the non-Muslim communities with the entry into force of the Law on Foundations.

Moreover, with a legislative decree that was announced by our Prime Minister in the last Ramadan, we took another historic step and decided on the return of properties that were seized by the State for several reasons since 1936 to the Foundations.

As we realized reforms and raised Turkey’s democratic standards, we attached importance to protect our principle of living together in peace and will continue to do so.

I would like to celebrate the Easter of the Christian community and I believe that this festival will also contribute to peace and welfare of humanity. I also celebrate the Easter all of our Christian citizens who live in Turkey and emphasize that “We are Turkey, all together”.