President wishes happy Nevruz

"Turkey is a country embracing different sociological facts and traditions where people of different faiths, languages, ethnic origins and cultures live in peace. Our differences and diversity are the biggest source of our country’s richness. Everyone will celebrate Nevruz according to their own traditions," Gül said in his message highlighting unity and universal values such as peace, tolerance and friendship.

He emphasized that Turkey and the whole Turkic world was aware that the key to happiness was peace and justice. "In this land fed by friendship, tolerance and love, our nation has overcome the biggest challenges and pains, and it has protected for centuries the values it owns," said Gül.

He assured that the nation would always care for its richness and act in line with the fact that every Turkish citizen, regardless of his ethnic origin, language, belief and political views will equally walk toward the future with this understanding. Meanwhile, military spokesman Metin Gürak called on the citizens to celebrate Nevruz in peace and using common sense. At the weekly press briefing, he said that Turkey’s security forces had taken measures in every corner of the country to avoid any incident.