Democratic Alliance leader visits Ecumenical Patriarchate

Democratic Alliance party president Dora Bakoyannis, speaking after meeting Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos at the Phanar on Tuesday, said “I want to hope that the target that we have set for the reopening of the School of Halki as well as of the return of the property belonging to the Patriarchate and the Greek Communities will be achieved and we shall see it soon.”

The Greek politician added that “there is a note of optimism in the atmosphere” and that “I always said that the role of the Ecumenical Patriarchate is extremely important not only for us Orthodox faithful but for Turkey itself as well.”

Bakoyannis is visiting Turkey in the framework of a meeting of the Babi-Ali Institute, at which she shall be the main speaker and the speaker of honour. She will speak of issues concerning the future of Greek-Turkish relations.