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Today's Zaman, Turkey
March 4 2012
DavutoÄ?lu reaches out to Turkey's non-Muslim leaders at weekend tour
4 March 2012 / TODAY'S ZAMAN, Ä°STANBUL
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet DavutoÄ?lu on Saturday paid courtesy
visits to religious leaders in Ä°stanbul to contribute to the
continuation of religious peace in the Balkans, Middle East and
elsewhere.
Within this frame, DavutoÄ?lu received Deyrulzafaran Monastery
Metropolitan Saliba Ã-zmen at the Four Seasons Hotel in Ä°stanbul.
During the meeting with Ã-zmen, DavutoÄ?lu stressed the importance
Turkey attached to dialogue in surrounding countries.
DavutoÄ?lu later visited Greek Patriarch Bartholomew I. Speaking to
reporters after the visit, DavutoÄ?lu said that it was their main
principle to see all religious communities sharing a common cultural
life in peace.
Bartholomew I, on his part, said that they were pleased with
DavutoÄ?lu's visit. `We told Minister DavutoÄ?lu that we pray for the
health of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip ErdoÄ?an daily. ErdoÄ?an's health
is important not only for Turkey but for global peace as well,'
Bartholomew I said.
DavutoÄ?lu also visited the patriarchal vicar of the Syriac Orthodox
Church of Turkey, Mor Filiksinos Yusuf Ã?etin, Syriac Catholic church
leader Chorepiscopus Yusuf SaÄ?, and Ä°shak Haleva, the chief rabbi of
Turkey's Jewish community.
Talking to reporters before visiting Ã?etin at the Church of the Virgin
Mary (Meryem ana) DavutoÄ?lu underlined the importance of the Syriac
tradition within cultural history. Commenting on the equal rights of
Syriac citizens in the context of today's modern state, DavutoÄ?lu
noted that they are entitled to benefit from the comprehensive manner
of religious freedom. DavutoÄ?lu also expressed his belief that the
Syriac community will pay a huge contribution to regional peace and
stability. Talking about the contributions Syriacs have made to the
religion of Islam during the meeting with DavutoÄ?lu, Ã?etin said, `We
love this country. Both during the Ottoman Empire and after the
establishment of the Turkish republic we sided with our state
[Turkey].' Ã?etin also said that Syriacs s living abroad make
significant efforts for Turkey and see themselves as a part of the
country.
During the foreign minister's visit to the Syriac Catholic church the
importance of the inter-religious dialogue was emphasized. Both sides
called for joint work in assisting Muslims and Christians in the
Middle East to live in peace.
Visiting the Chief Rabbinate in the evening hours because of Shabbat,
the Jewish day of rest, DavutoÄ?lu again mentioned the importance of
inter-religious dialogue and said that Jewish citizens are an
essential element in Turkey.
DavutoÄ?lu also paid visits to Armenian Deputy Patriarch of Turkey Aram
Ateshyan. DavutoÄ?lu said that in the future all prejudices will be
left beyond, and a stable peace will be established both in Turkey and
in the Caucasus. DavutoÄ?lu stated that one of the main elements is to
establish mutual understanding among religious communities and to
transfer this to the political sphere. Patriarch Ateshyan said that
until the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) came to
power in Turkey, no ministers or deputies in the country knew the way
to the Patriarchate. Representing the Armenian community living in
Turkey as an integral part of the country, Ateshyan said, `If
Armenians are deported from Turkey, one of Turkey's two legs will be
crippled.'
March 4 2012
DavutoÄ?lu reaches out to Turkey's non-Muslim leaders at weekend tour
4 March 2012 / TODAY'S ZAMAN, Ä°STANBUL
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet DavutoÄ?lu on Saturday paid courtesy
visits to religious leaders in Ä°stanbul to contribute to the
continuation of religious peace in the Balkans, Middle East and
elsewhere.
Within this frame, DavutoÄ?lu received Deyrulzafaran Monastery
Metropolitan Saliba Ã-zmen at the Four Seasons Hotel in Ä°stanbul.
During the meeting with Ã-zmen, DavutoÄ?lu stressed the importance
Turkey attached to dialogue in surrounding countries.
DavutoÄ?lu later visited Greek Patriarch Bartholomew I. Speaking to
reporters after the visit, DavutoÄ?lu said that it was their main
principle to see all religious communities sharing a common cultural
life in peace.
Bartholomew I, on his part, said that they were pleased with
DavutoÄ?lu's visit. `We told Minister DavutoÄ?lu that we pray for the
health of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip ErdoÄ?an daily. ErdoÄ?an's health
is important not only for Turkey but for global peace as well,'
Bartholomew I said.
DavutoÄ?lu also visited the patriarchal vicar of the Syriac Orthodox
Church of Turkey, Mor Filiksinos Yusuf Ã?etin, Syriac Catholic church
leader Chorepiscopus Yusuf SaÄ?, and Ä°shak Haleva, the chief rabbi of
Turkey's Jewish community.
Talking to reporters before visiting Ã?etin at the Church of the Virgin
Mary (Meryem ana) DavutoÄ?lu underlined the importance of the Syriac
tradition within cultural history. Commenting on the equal rights of
Syriac citizens in the context of today's modern state, DavutoÄ?lu
noted that they are entitled to benefit from the comprehensive manner
of religious freedom. DavutoÄ?lu also expressed his belief that the
Syriac community will pay a huge contribution to regional peace and
stability. Talking about the contributions Syriacs have made to the
religion of Islam during the meeting with DavutoÄ?lu, Ã?etin said, `We
love this country. Both during the Ottoman Empire and after the
establishment of the Turkish republic we sided with our state
[Turkey].' Ã?etin also said that Syriacs s living abroad make
significant efforts for Turkey and see themselves as a part of the
country.
During the foreign minister's visit to the Syriac Catholic church the
importance of the inter-religious dialogue was emphasized. Both sides
called for joint work in assisting Muslims and Christians in the
Middle East to live in peace.
Visiting the Chief Rabbinate in the evening hours because of Shabbat,
the Jewish day of rest, DavutoÄ?lu again mentioned the importance of
inter-religious dialogue and said that Jewish citizens are an
essential element in Turkey.
DavutoÄ?lu also paid visits to Armenian Deputy Patriarch of Turkey Aram
Ateshyan. DavutoÄ?lu said that in the future all prejudices will be
left beyond, and a stable peace will be established both in Turkey and
in the Caucasus. DavutoÄ?lu stated that one of the main elements is to
establish mutual understanding among religious communities and to
transfer this to the political sphere. Patriarch Ateshyan said that
until the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) came to
power in Turkey, no ministers or deputies in the country knew the way
to the Patriarchate. Representing the Armenian community living in
Turkey as an integral part of the country, Ateshyan said, `If
Armenians are deported from Turkey, one of Turkey's two legs will be
crippled.'