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