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ANKARA: US president in Turkey, meets leaders of religious faiths

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  • ANKARA: US president in Turkey, meets leaders of religious faiths

    US president in Turkey, meets leaders of religious faiths

    NTV television, Istanbul
    28 Jun 04

    [Announcer] US President George Bush received six religious leaders at
    the Istanbul Hilton Hotel yesterday [27 June]. In a statement after
    the meeting, the president said: Turkey is a secular country in its
    politics and a strong country in its faiths.

    After he arrived in Istanbul from Ankara, President Bush went to the
    Hilton Hotel. He held a meeting of about 45 minutes with six religious
    leaders, including Religious Affairs Director Ali Bardakoglu, Syriac
    Orthodox Bishop Yusuf Cetin, and Chief Rabbi Ishak Haleva.

    The media members were allowed in after the meeting. The president
    said that he was honoured to be meeting with important personalities
    from different religions. He said: Welcome. These people are the very
    important leaders of the interreligious dialogue among different
    faiths. Turkey is a secular country in its politics and a strong
    country in its faiths, so they represent Turkey in the best way. We
    had a very good meeting. I am grateful to them for giving me some of
    their time and for remaining loyal to Almighty God. I thank
    them. Thank you for coming.

    In a statement after he left the meeting, Chief Rabbi Haleva said that
    President Bush said: It is my greatest wish to see interreligious
    peace and tranquillity.

    Greek Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew said, in turn, that they all
    spoke one by one. He said that the opening of the Greek Orthodox
    seminary in Heybeliada was also mentioned.

    [Bartholomew] When we got up to leave, the honourable president told
    me that he discussed this matter in Ankara, and that he was satisfied
    with what was said. That is all.

    [Announcer] Armenian Patriarch Mutafyan pointed out that they
    discussed their unrest in connection with the violence in the Middle
    East.

    At his meeting with the religious leaders, President Bush was
    accompanied by Condoleeza Rice, his national security adviser, and by
    Secretary of State Colin Powell.

    From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
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