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ANKARA: Davutoglu Reaches Out To Turkey's Non-Muslim Leaders At Week

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  • ANKARA: Davutoglu Reaches Out To Turkey's Non-Muslim Leaders At Week

    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."

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