President Gül's first iftar (fast-breaking dinner) guests during the holy month of Ramadan this year were close relatives of soldiers, police officers and village guards killed in clashes with terrorists in the past year. During the dinner at the Çankaya presidential palace, which was attended by 231 guests from 62 provinces, Gül talked about the recent efforts of the government, coordinated by the Interior Ministry and backed by the National Security Council (MGK), to settle Turkey's long-standing Kurdish issue.
Stressing that everyone has been working to prevent further pain, Gül said: “Trust your state. Your state never goes wrong. It does not forget the pain of our martyrs and dedication of our veteran soldiers.” The president, accompanied by his wife, Hayrünnisa, was very interested in listening to what his guests had to say.
The president said he wanted to send a message to all state officials with the fast-breaking dinner, as he intended to stress that the families of fallen soldiers and veterans are Turkey's most valued citizens and deserve the most respect. “I would like to express with all my heart that you are our most valued citizens because you sacrificed your sons, your husbands, your relatives, your loved ones for this country. May they all rest in peace,” Gül said. He also asked families to deliver their demands to him and share their problems with him through representatives who sat with the guests at every table.
