The Ecumenical Patriarch, Bartholomeos I, accompanied by representatives of Turkey’s Greek Orthodox minority, visited the newly-elected Turkish President Abdulah Gül to congratulate him for his election.In view of important constitutional reforms submitted to referendum on October 21, Bartholomeos raised several issues that have negatively affected the Patriarchate in Turkey, like the historical recognition of the Patriarchate’s ecumenical nature, the return of buildings, monasteries and churches unjustly seized by the Religious Foundations Directorate and the re-opening of the Halki Theological School, shut down in 1971.
“We want all our citizens to live in harmony and prosperity. Minorities in Turkey enrich the country. Reforms will follow normal procedures, step by step. It is my duty to inform the appropriate institutions and I shall closely follow developments to solve the problems,” said President Gül after he listened carefully to the ecumenical patriarch’s plea.
“Everyone welcomed us warmly and with kindness. They listened to what we had to say carefully and promised to do everything possible to meet our needs,” said the ecumenical patriarch when he left the presidential palace.
Patriarchate sources noted though that similar pledges were made four yeas ago, in 2007, by Prime Minister Erdoğan. Now it is hoped that the circumstances might be more favourable.
The patriarch also visited Parliamentary Speaker Köksal Toptan and opposition leader Deniz Baikal. The latter expressed misgivings about the religious leader’s requests, suggesting that they might stoke Islamic fundamentalism.
The scheduled meeting between Bartholomeos and Prime Minister Erdoğan was instead postponed because of the deteriorating situation along the border with Iraq and the terrorist actions of the PKK.
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