The IKV EU Information Centre organised an iftar dinner at Darüzziyafe near Süleymaniye Mosque on 20 June 2016 at the occasion of the World Refugee Day. Head of EU Delegation in Turkey Ambassador H.E. Hansjörg Haber, IKV Vice-Chairman Prof. Halûk Kabaalioğlu, IKV Board of Directors members, Consul Generals, representatives from foreign missions as well as from civil society organisations, academicians, members of the media and refugees attended the event.

In his speech, Head of EU Delegation in Turkey Ambassador H.E. Hansjörg Haber explained that the current situation of the Syrians bears similarity with that of many European families 70 years ago and added that he hoped that our Syrian friends would also be able to create a better future as did European families for their livelihoods and children. Furthermore, Ambassador H.E. Haber reminded that various crises are still ongoing in Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya and other areas in the Ramadan period, affecting its citizens and stressed that it brings a lot of sorrow to the friends of these countries around the world.  Reminding that refugees have been forced to leave their homes and that they are people living in extreme conditions, Ambassador H.E. Haber expressed his satisfaction in Turkey’s continued hospitality and support tradition for people in need and that there are refugee groups together in iftar dinners organised for refugees across 20 provinces of Turkey.

In his speech, IKV Vice Chairman Prof. Halûk Kabaalioğlu expressed his great joy in being together with our Syrian friends and indicated that the number of Syrian refugees which have been forced to flee their country and find refuge in neighbouring countries as a result of war has risen to 5 million people. Thanking the EU Delegation and the EU Information Centres network for their sensitivity with respect to the refugee issue which has become one of the most important issues of our time, Prof. Kabaalioğlu explained that Turkey was cooperating closely with the EU in finding solutions to the issues pertaining to the Syrian refugees.