Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu held a meeting with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew at the Patriarchate’s Fanar district headquarters, after which the Patriarch expressed satisfaction at the change in the Turkish government’s stance toward the ancient Patriarchate. The meeting was held on Saturday.
The Patriarch expressed hope that all issues concerning the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the ethnic Greek community will finally be resolved.
Davutoglu repeated that the Turkish government desired to move toward the harmonious coexistence of all religious communities in Turkey. He noted that the Turkish government’s policy was not dependent on some sort of “mutuality” but expressed equality before the state and the laws, as this was understood by the government.
Patriarch Bartholomew expressed hope that the changes taking place will continue and pointed out that the Patriarchate has had its “roots” in Istanbul for more than 17 centuries.
The Turkish minister repeated his desire to visit the School of Theology on the island of Halki and its library.
(source: ana-mpa)
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