Social and Diplomatic Events in Ankara

Saudi Ambassador Al-Hussaini hosts traditional “Iftar”

The Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Mohammed R.A. Al-Hussaini hosted an “Iftar” at Ankara Sheraton Hotel. The “Iftar”, hosting around 150 guests, has now become a traditional dinner for members of the community as he has been hosting it since his arrival in Ankara in September 2005.

The event was attended by State Minister for Religious Affairs Faruk Celik, President of Higher Educational Council Prof. Dr. Ziya Ozcan, Deputy Chairman of AK Party and Istanbul Deputy Abdulkadir Aksu, President of Religious Affairs Prof. Dr. Ali Bardakoglu, Adviser to the President H.E. Mr. Ersat Hurmuzlu, former Foreign Minister and Deputy of AK Party H.E. Mr. Yasar Yakis, Head of Foreign Relations Committee of the Parliament Murat Mercan, President of Turkish Saudi Friendship Group of the Parliament Mehmet Ceylan, Mayor of Ankara Melih Gokcek, Adviser to the Speaker of parliament H.E. Mr. Ahmet Rifat Okcun, TIKA President Musa Kulaklikaya, President of Investment Agency Alpaslan Korkmaz, Chairman of Greater Union Party Yalcin Topcu. Also Ambassadors of Vatican, Iraq, Algeria, Egypt, Portugal, Bulgaria, Canada, Australia, Macedonia, Uzbekistan, Bangladesh, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Philippines, Malaysia and many Charge d’Affaires along with members of media and businessmen attended the event.

After the guests broke their fasting by dates brought from Saudi Arabia especially for the event, all the protocol table went for prayers. At the end of the dinner Ambassador Al-Hussaini delivered a speech followed by Minister Celik.

In his speech, “Fasting is not a mere abstinence and deprivation of eating and drinking. Fasting is rather an exercise in self-control, self-restraint and self-denial whereby one learns to appreciate the suffering of the starving and needy people, thus identifying himself with them”, Ambassador Al-Hussaini said.

He then quoted the King as, “There is no solution for us, to avoid spiritual void other than to agree on a united approach through dialogue among religions and civilizations.” Ambassador ended his speech by saying, “The King highlighted the failure of most of the past dialogues and the cause of this failure. He said, they have failed because they attempted to fuse religions and creeds in a melting pot on the pretext of bringing them closer together. The King explained that this is a fruitless effort since the adherents of every religion are deeply convinced in their faith and will not accept an y alternative thereto. The King added that we must focus on the common denominators that unite us, namely, deep faith in God, noble principles and lofty moral values, which constitute the essence of religions.”