Call for peace and unity dominates Turkish leaders’ New Year’s messages
by Daily Sabah
ISTANBULDec 31, 2014 - 12:00 am GMT+3
by Daily Sabah
Dec 31, 2014 12:00 am
As the whole world embraces the new year with new hopes, Turkish leaders along with political and economic figures have released their New Year's messages. While some of them touch on the critical political events that the country has dealt with in the past year, some have highlighted that 2015 comes with new hopes for the entire country.
In his New Year's message, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said that the reconciliation process, which he referred to as the national unity and brotherhood project, proceeded in a determined manner in 2014 despite attempts at provocation and sabotage.
He said that although Turkey has witnessed a number of sad incidents at home and abroad in 2014, it was a year with increased hopes for the future.
"We have clamped together as a nation with 77 million citizens as brothers and sisters against troubles and issues that we have faced in the past year and tried to find peaceful resolutions to our problems," he said.
He also highlighted that 2014 marked a milestone for Turkey's democratic history as it was the first time a president was elected through popular vote.
He expressed his condolences for the citizens who died in 2014 with special emphasis on those who were killed in the mining incidents of Soma and Ermenek as well as the Kobani demonstrations that took place in October. He also commemorated those who died in Turkish independence battles.
He expressed his wishes that 2015 will be a year filled with peace, prosperity and goodness for the Turkish nation and saluted all citizens with love and respect.
Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu said that 2014 has proven to be a golden year for Turkish democracy, which has not fallen prey to chaotic attempts to overthrow the government and establish a tutelary regime.
"2014 was a golden age of democracy for Turkey" he said, explaining that the Turkish people expressed their commitment for democracy in the March 30 local elections with almost a 90 percent turnout. The August 10 presidential election was also remarkable according to Davutoğlu, who reiterated that it was the first time a president was elected by popular vote. He congratulated the Turkish people for their participation in the elections and for having a democratic conscience and determination to ensure that Turkey is not pulled into chaos and that he has no doubt that the people will express the same determination in the upcoming general elections expected to take place in June 2015.
Davutoğlu said that 2014 had been a test for Turkish democracy that had been passed successfully. He expressed hope that 2015 will be a bright year for Turkish democracy to strengthen and take root and that Turkey takes its power from the national will.
"2015 will hopefully be a year for us to carry out the second stage of our development and implement the government's 2023 goals for a brighter future," Davutoğlu was quoted as saying.
Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu called on the nation for a fresh start in 2015 in his New Year's message.
"Let's open a clear page for ourselves and for our children in 2015. May the new year bring peace, freedom, justice and abundance to humanity," Kılıçdaroğlu said, referencing the upcoming national elections in 2015.
"Our votes and our determination will decide the future. A hopeful year is beginning in Turkey," he added.
Touching on the heartbreaking incidents in 2014, Kılıçdaroğlu mentioned the Soma mine disaster and how the entire country shared the pain and the Ermenek mine disaster that happened months after the Soma tragedy.
Calling for a change and reform in his New Year's message, Kılıçdaroğlu wished for a country in which every citizen is equal and no one is exposed to injustice and discrimination.
Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Chairman Devlet Bahçeli said that a year with difficulties is left to the past and the country saw many rare incidents in 2014.
Calling all parties to evaluate the past months of 2014 and update hopes for the new year, Bahçeli said that 2014 was the year that humanity was put on the shelf as justice was silenced.
Asserting that cooperation channels, solidarity and dialogue were closed in the past year, Bahçeli harshly criticized the Justice and Development Party-led (AK Party) government.
Keep up to date with what’s happening in Turkey,
it’s region and the world.
You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.