ANKARA - "Turkey is the symbol country of living in peace and unity in a world where violence and hatred gradually grow among different beliefs and cultures," Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday.
Releasing a message to mark the Feast of Sacrifice and the new year, Erdogan said 2006 was a successful year for Turkey and for the Turkish nation.
"We have managed to record important developments in every area. Our living standards rose when compared with the previous year. We have made progress in solution of main problems," Erdogan noted.
"A free and prosperous Turkey has started to appear. I believe that 2007 will be a very brilliant year in this respect," he added.
Erdogan said, "Turkey assumes an important role in establishment of regional and global peace."
On the other hand, Deniz Baykal, the leader of Republican People's Party (CHP) in his Feast of Sacrifice and new year message, said "I hope that the new year will not be a wasted year and a year of tension."
"Turkey can overcome problems and tension if general elections are held before presidential election. If the presidential election is held with a fait accompli before early elections, it will overshadow Turkey and Turkey will hold general elections with this shadow," Baykal added.