ANKARA

Representatives of the minority groups thanked Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for his invitation for fast-breaking dinner during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Erdogan on Wednesday hosted representatives of Christian denominations and the Jewish community at the Cankaya Palace in the capital Ankara.

Representatives expressed their gratitude to Erdogan for making them sense citizenship feeling stronger.

The representatives said that they are lucky to live in a safe country like Turkey, where there are good-hearted and conscientious people as members of different faiths.

Underlining that they have experienced the conveniences they have never seen in Turkey in the last 20 years, the representatives said they were noticed during the Justice and Development (AK) Party rule.

“We have gained a lot during your government. We can never forget them. As members of different faiths, we are fortunate to have a leader and president like you. We remember you and your colleagues in all our prayers. We pray for your health, for the unity, solidarity, peace and tranquility of our country. We also strive for this. We always stand by Turkey. We love our country very much,” they said.

Highlighting the friendship, closeness and brotherhood ties in the country, they wished that the sensitivity to live together and the spiritual climate would spread to the whole world.

They also congratulated the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr, which mark the end of the fasting month of Ramadan.

Erdogan stressed that the support and work of the representatives of the minorities play an essential role in explaining this picture of brotherhood in Turkey to the world.

Referring to the unfounded, unjust and unreal statement made by US President Joe Biden about the events of 1915, Erdogan said that he told Biden that this was the issue of historians and lawyers, not politicians.

Representatives expressed their readiness to make more effort to tell the world that they live comfortably, peacefully and equally in Turkey.

The guests included Fener Greek Patriarch Bartholomeos, President of the Balikli Greek Hospital Foundation Konstantin Yuvanidis, Syriac Metropolitan Yusuf Cetin, Syriac Ancient Foundation President Sait Susin, Turkish Jews Chief Rabbi Isak Haleva, President of the Turkish Jewish Community Ishak Ibrahimzadeh, President of the Turkish Jewish Community Foundation and Co-Chair of the Turkish Jewish Community Erol Kohen, Turkish Armenian Patriarch Sahak Mashalian, Surp Pirgic Armenian Hospital Foundation President Bedros Sirinoglu, Turkish Syriac Catholic Community Spiritual Leader Orhan Abdulahad Canli and Assyrian Catholic Foundation Chairman Zeki Basatemir.

Ali Erbas, the head of Turkey’s Presidency of Religious Affairs, was also present.

*Writing by Gozde Bayar and Ali Murat Alhas