Events

MINSK, 11 November (BelTA) – Representatives of different religions coexist peacefully in Belarus, Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said as he attended the ceremony to open the Cathedral Mosque in Minsk on 11 November, BelTA has learned.

“Belarus is a country where people of different ethnic and religious backgrounds live in peace and harmony under one roof. Such a diversity is regarded here not as a source of a potential threat but as a beauty, a symbol of wealth and achievement,” the Turkish President stressed.

In his words, people of different ethnic backgrounds and religious beliefs work together for the common prosperity of the Republic of Belarus. “I believe that this feature of Belarus is vitally important during the difficult period we are currently in. Unfortunately, few countries can boast such a beautiful landscape. A number of European countries lack the tolerance and friendliness which we can see here. Sometimes people fall victim to the policy to divide everyone by a principle “Who are you, where are from, and what do you believe in”, said Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

He stressed that today people are in fact witnessing a drama when a great many of people have to flee for safety to Europe due to hardship and perturbations in their own countries. “I am not going to tell about the refugees from Syria and Iraq that we have been accommodating in Turkey for the last six years. We will continue doing this because this is what our faith tells us to do. We cannot close the door in front of those who are running from bombings,” the Turkey President added.