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DAVUTOGLU REACHES OUT TO TURKEY'S NON-MUSLIM LEADERS AT WEEKEND TOUR
Turkish Press
http://www.turkishpress.com/news.asp?id=379475
March 5 2012
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on Saturday paid courtesy
visits to religious leaders in Istanbul to contribute to the
continuation of religious peace in the Balkans, Middle East and
elsewhere.
Within this frame, Davutoglu received Deyrulzafaran Monastery
Metropolitan Saliba Ozmen at the Four Seasons Hotel in Istanbul.
During the meeting with Ozmen, Davutoglu stressed the importance
Turkey attached to dialogue in surrounding countries.
Davutoglu later visited Greek Patriarch Bartholomew I. Speaking to
reporters after the visit, Davutoglu 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 Davutoglu's visit. "We told Minister Davutoglu that we pray for
the health of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan daily. Erdogan's
health is important not only for Turkey but for global peace as well,"
Bartholomew I said.
Davutoglu also visited the patriarchal vicar of the Syriac Orthodox
Church of Turkey, Mor Filiksinos Yusuf Cetin, Syriac Catholic church
leader Chorepiscopus Yusuf Sag, and Ishak Haleva, the chief rabbi of
Turkey's Jewish community.
Talking to reporters before visiting Cetin at the Church of the Virgin
Mary (Meryem ana) Davutoglu 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, Davutoglu
noted that they are entitled to benefit from the comprehensive manner
of religious freedom.
Davutoglu 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 Davutoglu, Cetin said, "We love this country. Both
during the Ottoman Empire and after the establishment of the Turkish
republic we sided with our state [Turkey]."
Cetin also said that Syriacs 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, Davutoglu again mentioned the importance
of inter-religious dialogue and said that Jewish citizens are an
essential element in Turkey.
Davutoglu also paid visits to Armenian Deputy Patriarch of Turkey
Aram Ateshyan.
Davutoglu 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. Davutoglu 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 (AKP) 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."
Turkish Press
http://www.turkishpress.com/news.asp?id=379475
March 5 2012
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on Saturday paid courtesy
visits to religious leaders in Istanbul to contribute to the
continuation of religious peace in the Balkans, Middle East and
elsewhere.
Within this frame, Davutoglu received Deyrulzafaran Monastery
Metropolitan Saliba Ozmen at the Four Seasons Hotel in Istanbul.
During the meeting with Ozmen, Davutoglu stressed the importance
Turkey attached to dialogue in surrounding countries.
Davutoglu later visited Greek Patriarch Bartholomew I. Speaking to
reporters after the visit, Davutoglu 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 Davutoglu's visit. "We told Minister Davutoglu that we pray for
the health of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan daily. Erdogan's
health is important not only for Turkey but for global peace as well,"
Bartholomew I said.
Davutoglu also visited the patriarchal vicar of the Syriac Orthodox
Church of Turkey, Mor Filiksinos Yusuf Cetin, Syriac Catholic church
leader Chorepiscopus Yusuf Sag, and Ishak Haleva, the chief rabbi of
Turkey's Jewish community.
Talking to reporters before visiting Cetin at the Church of the Virgin
Mary (Meryem ana) Davutoglu 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, Davutoglu
noted that they are entitled to benefit from the comprehensive manner
of religious freedom.
Davutoglu 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 Davutoglu, Cetin said, "We love this country. Both
during the Ottoman Empire and after the establishment of the Turkish
republic we sided with our state [Turkey]."
Cetin also said that Syriacs 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, Davutoglu again mentioned the importance
of inter-religious dialogue and said that Jewish citizens are an
essential element in Turkey.
Davutoglu also paid visits to Armenian Deputy Patriarch of Turkey
Aram Ateshyan.
Davutoglu 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. Davutoglu 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 (AKP) 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."