Civilizations Meet in the Iftar Dinner of "Global Peace"
Many people of different religions and opinions came together around the same table at the traditional iftar, a fast-breaking dinner during Ramadan, dinner organized by the Foundation of Journalists and Writers with the slogan of "Towards the Global Peace" this year.
Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) Speaker Bulent Arinc, State Minister Kursad Tuzmen, True Path Party (DYP) leader Mehmet Agar, Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Melih Gokcek, Diyarbakir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Osman Baydemir, Turkey Jews Chief Rabbi Ishak Haleva and Vatican Turkey Representative George Marowitch as well as many figures from the art, political and business circles came together at the iftar dinner.
Arinc giving messages of friendship and unity in the dinner, said, "Our differences are our richness."
Foundation of Journalists and Writers Chairman Harun Tokak expressed Turkish schools abroad serve as a bridge for world peace.
Arinc, reminding the people living all around the world that need a helping hand, said: "The foundation realizes this mission. The organization is growing more every year. We accept all differences. People look at each other and smile at others."
Expressing the activities should not be restricted to Ramadan only, Aric further said: "The point the world came to is the point of increasing friendship and tolerance. The whole world wants to get rid of clashes, disagreements, troubles, crises and the evil of terrorism. We do not want to think that civilizations will clash, instead we want to think that they will together."
Arinc referring to the young graduates of Turkish schools said: "It is glad to experience these beautiful scenes. I am familiar with it, I saw these schools. If you saw their schools and countries, I am sure you would cry like a child. These young people are the real architects of the message 'Towards global peace'. We just speak the words. I am afraid we will fast consume the good words such as love, peace. However, we must live these words. This is needed for peace in countries and to finish the quarrels in the world."
I thank them on behalf of Assembly and Nation
Speaker of the Assembly said contributing to world peace is the biggest mission of Turkey as a Muslim country after starting negotiations with the European Union. He also thanked those who encouraged opening Turkish schools everywhere in the world. "If in the past in this hall, I had said that we would open schools nearly in 100 countries in the world from the north to the south, from the east to the west, nobody would have believed me. But some said this, some others listened to the things said, realized them and a legend was written. On behalf of myself, my Parliament and the Turkish nation, I thank those, who accomplished these efforts, very much."
Foundation's Chairman wished mercy for those who died and patience for those who survived the earthquake in Pakistan and called people to help them in his speech. Tokak reminded that when the foundation was set up in 1994 there was a war going on in Bosnia-Herzegovina as well as other global tensions. He said the Foundation organized a football match at the time between the world Alstar and Turkish National Football Team in order to stop the Bosnia War. The proceedings from the match were used to establish three schools in Bosnia.
Foundation's iftar first dialogue since 1994
The first talks between the Intercultural Dialogue Platform under the umbrella of the Foundation of Journalists and Writers and spiritual leaders of the three religions living in Turkey started in 1994. The Jewish, Christian and Muslim religious men first came together in an iftar dinner in 1997. Representatives of Vatican, Fener Greek Orthodox Patriarchy and Syrian Orthodox Church came together at Istanbul Hotel in 27 January 1997. A very clear and obvious message came out of the meeting: "We are all on the same boat." (Tuncer Cetinkaya, Istanbul)
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