Following is the message President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan issued on the occasion of Christmas:
“I wholeheartedly congratulate our Christian citizens on the occasion of Christmas.
The country we live in has, for thousands of years, been the land of peace, serenity and trustworthy people, and home to an ancient civilization, based on love and respect regardless of religion, language, race or sect.
We as members of this unique ancient civilization consider the different cultures in our region to be an unrivalled richness and rare pieces of our mosaic of civilization.
Just as we lived together and united, and developed our lands within the states we founded throughout history, we will, today and in the future, see our differences as richness, and persevere in building our future in a more prosperous way and on the basis of mutual respect.
I wish that Christmas, celebrated by our Christian citizens of various sects, traditions and churches of Christianity in line with their beliefs, may lead to the strengthening of the climate of solidarity in Turkey.
With these feelings and thoughts, I once again congratulate all our Christian citizens and the entire Christian world on Christmas and wish them peace, happiness and well-being.”
https://www.tccb.gov.tr/en/speeches-statements/558/123348/christmas-message