Greek patriarch defends Turkey’s EU entry at NATO seminar

BBC Monitoring Europe, May 3, 2006 Wednesday

Text of report in English by Turkish news agency Anatolia

Istanbul, 3 May: « We, as people living in the crossroad between the east and the west, have proven that different cultures and religious beliefs can co-exist in peace, » said Greek-Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew on Wednesday [3 May].

Speaking at a special session on « Dialogue among civilizations » at the NATO Parliamentary Assembly 12th Mediterranean Special Dialogue Seminar in Istanbul, Bartholomew said: « Istanbul is the only city in the world connecting two continents to each other. We, as people living in such a crossroad between the east and the west, have proven that different cultures and religious beliefs can co-exist in peace. »

« I believe that Turkey’s membership to the EU will diminish the tension between the east and the west. Turkey’s integration with the EU will make valuable contributions to the whole region to this end, » he said.

Bartholomew stressed that the humanity should leave behind all differences and bitter experiences of the past.

Meanwhile, Chief Rabbi in Turkey Isak Haleva said in his part: « Civilization should be preserved with the common will of whole humanity. Dialogue is the best way to achieve this target. »

Source: Anatolia news agency, Ankara, in English 1554 gmt 3 May 06