Istanbul Governor Ali Yerlikaya celebrated the New Year with a video message. Noting that 2020 had been a difficult year for all states across the world, Governor Yerlikaya reminded that we should look at 2021 with hope.

In his message, Governor Yerlikaya stated as follows: "For those of us who believe that there is convenience besides all challenges, hope has always existed in our hearts, and it will always exist. I hope it will be beautiful like Istanbul, blessed like Istanbul, and magnificent like Istanbul. Where there is Istanbul, there is hope as well. Istanbul is happiness, it is peace. I hope that it will be a year in which we stand tall like Hagia Sophia, which has been standing for 1500 years. Elegant like Süleymaniye, and vast like the Bosphorus. So I wish you a year like Istanbul!"

New Year Celebration Message from the Governor Yerlikaya:

Dear Istanbulites, my dear fellow citizens...

Every goodbye is a bit sad. And every beginning is exciting.

Yes, 2020 was full of difficulties. However, for those of us who believe that there is convenience besides all challenges, hope has always existed in our hearts, and it will always exist.

We had to say in 2020: "Please do not go out without wearing a mask." But the masks were only on our faces, not in our hearts.

We kept smiling at each other warmly under those masks.

We told you to maintain social distance. Maybe the distances between us have widened a little, but we have never pulled away from each other.

Where there is Istanbul, there is hope as well. Istanbul is happiness, it is peace.

As we are getting ready to enter 2021… I would like to send everyone my best wishes.

I would like to wish a happy new year to all my fellow citizens from Istanbul, all my colleagues who serve this beautiful city, our security forces and especially our healthcare professionals.

I wish you healthy year with your families, neighbors and all your loved ones.

I wish the New Year to bring health, peace, tranquility and happiness to our country, nation, city and to all humanity.

And I would like to say...

I hope that the New Year will be beautiful like Istanbul, blessed like Istanbul, and magnificent like Istanbul.

I WISH YOU A YEAR LIKE ISTANBUL!

Take good care of yourselves...

Aileniz ve sevdiklerinizle birlikte,sağlık dolu bir yılınız olsun.#Yeniyıl ülkemize, milletimize ve tüm insanlığa sağlık,barış,huzur ve mutluluklar getirsin.#2021yılınız,
İstanbul gibi güzel,
İstanbul gibi bereketli,
İstanbul gibi muhteşem olsun.#İstanbulgibibiryılınızolsun pic.twitter.com/r2aOjjOeHV

— Ali Yerlikaya (@AliYerlikaya) December 31, 2020