Bartholomew I hopeful of reforms in Turkey

Tuesday, 13 March 2007

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I expressed hopes that the situation of the Christians living in Turkey will improve after the elections slated for this year. In the course of his ongoing visit to Austria, His All Holiness Bartholomew said that very little has changed in Turkey since last year's visit of the Pope. "We are still facing problems, and very little has changed", he stated after meeting with the Austrian President Heinz Fischer. According to the Ecumenical Patriarch, implementation of reforms in Turkey is necessary not only because of international community's pressures, but for the Turkish nation itself. "We were born in Turkey, attended school and are working here, and we will die here. Therefore, we don't feel like second-class citizens, but as equal to all the others", Bartholomew said. Turkish presidential elections are scheduled for this spring, and the general elections will follow in autumn.

 

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