Gul attends iftar hosted by Alevi foundations in Istanbul

President Abdullah Gul attended a fast-breaking dinner (iftar) that brought together many leading figures in politics and business, hosted by the Alevi foundations at an Istanbul hotel on Wednesday evening. In addition to Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc, Republican People's Party (CHP) deputy leader Faik Oztrak, Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) deputy leader Oktay Vural, Governor of Istanbul Huseyin Avni Mutlu, Tunceli University Rector Professor Durmus Boztug, Istanbul Mufti Rahmi Yaran, Alevi opinion leader Seyit Dervis Tur and Chairman of Haci Bektas Veli Foundation Irfan Cetinkaya were among the other attendees of the event.  Speaking at the event, Gul said that all Turkish citizens, irrespective of their beliefs and views, are an integral part of this country. "There are representatives of Turkey's non-Muslim population here. It is of utmost importance to be in solidarity with everyone and to know the realities of our country," Gul said, adding, "We were all citizens of this country no matter what our beliefs and opinions are."