Hanukkah Festival -The Festival of Lights

President Abdullah Gül's message on our Jewish citizens' Hanukkah Festival.

I wholeheartedly wish our Jewish citizens a happy Hanukkah Festival; our Jewish citizens with whom we have been living for centuries on the same soil with tolerance, respect, friendship and solidarity and with whom we have shared our joys, sorrows and hopes.

All our citizens, whatever their religion or ethnic origin, are equal individuals before the law of our Republic.

We will not let our diversities lead us into conflict in the future, just as we never did in the past, because those diversities make up our richness, a richness that consolidates the unity and integration of our nation and strengthens the spirit of fraternity and solidarity between us.

Once again I send my greetings to all our Jewish citizens on their Hanukkah Festival and wish them all happiness and well-being.