As-salamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh.

Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,

Welcome to the Ramadan Ghabga program of the Embassy of Turkey in Kuwait. Ramadan Kareem!

I wish the Holy Month of Ramadan would bring barakah, happiness, peace and felicity to our brotherly countries and all the Muslims across the world.

Dear Guests,

Ramadan is the most precious month of the year for Muslims. As we call it in Turkey, it is the “Sultan” of 11 months. Its beginning is mercy, the middle is forgiveness, and the end is salvation. Alhamdulillah, we have already reached the eleventh day.

By fasting from dawn to dusk every day, we observe one of the 'Five Pillars of Islam'. However, fasting serves many more purposes, too.

Fasting redirects the heart away from distractions to cleanse the soul by freeing it from impurities. In this most sacred month, fasting helps Muslims feel the peace that comes from spiritual devotion, as well as kinship with fellow believers.

Ramadan is also an opportunity for Muslims to practice self-discipline, sacrifice, and empathy for those less fortunate. While we are hungry and thirsty, we are reminded of the suffering of the poor. It encourages generosity and charity.

Having said this, I am proud to represent a generous country, Turkey, which hosts the largest number of refugees in the world. Likewise, I am honored to serve in another generous country, Kuwait, which is entitled as “Humanitarian Centre”.

Dear Guests,

The Holy Month of Ramadan brings good time for the people to share traditional Ramadan hospitality. In this context, Ghabga is a unique Kuwaiti tradition. It is not only a meal at late night, but indeed a get-together for socializing. It provides an atmosphere of joy and happiness among the community members.

We do not have traditions of Ghabga or Diwaniya visits in Turkey. However, Ramadan in Turkey is a time of celebration and socialization, as well as fasting and prayer. We invite our relatives or friends to our homes for iftars. Governmental and private institutions, NGOs, political parties, briefly all social groups come together in iftars on streets, in restaurants or hotels. Tents are also put across the length and breadth of Turkey to serve free food to the public. Therefore, we are much familiar with the spirit behind the Kuwaiti traditions of Ghabga and Diwaniya visits.

With these feelings in mind, last year I initiated the Embassy's first ever Ghabga event. It was my first year in Kuwait. And, today, in my second Ramadan in Kuwait, I am excited to host our second Ghabga. Inshallah, the Embassy will continue to be part of this meaningful Kuwaiti tradition in the future, too.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Our bilateral relations with Kuwait are stronger than ever. At political level, Turkey and Kuwait have excellent relations thanks to the leadership of His Highness the Amir and His Excellency President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

Our economic and commercial relations have been expanding, although they still lag behind the exemplary political relations that Turkey and Kuwait enjoy.

We remain committed to further enhance, deepen and diversify our bilateral relations.

May Allah bless Turkey and Kuwait!

Dear Guests,

I just emphasized that Ramadan is a holy month of solidarity and sharing. However, enemies of Islam and humanity are sparing no effort to spoil Muslims’ joy of Ramadan this year, too. Regional and humanitarian crises inflicting different regions of the world escalated both in number and intensity. The tragedies in Syria, Yemen, Libya, Gaza, Afghanistan, Somalia and Myanmar couldn’t be alleviated.

We must remain firm and vigilant especially with the security challenges we are experiencing. I pray for peace, security and stability of our region. As Turkey, we will continue our efforts to solve our issues by dialogue and cooperation. We will stand shoulder to shoulder with our brothers and sisters, despite those who try to disrupt.

May Allah bring peace to Muslims and all people in the world in these sacred days. May Allah unite our hearts and guide us in the path of peace.

Dear Guests,

I can’t finish my remarks without thanking the esteemed sponsor of this event. I would like to express my special gratitude to KFH (Kuwait Finance House) for sponsoring today’s Ghabga. KFH is not only the pioneer Islamic financial institution in the world, but also an important figure in Turkey-Kuwait economic and commercial relations. Thank you for your support.

And, many thanks to my team and everybody who contributed to the success of this event.

Finally, I would like to thank you all for gathering here. Enjoy your evening. Ramadan Kareem!

Thank you.