Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias arrived in Istanbul. Dendias met with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew at the Greek Consulate General in Istanbul.
Dendias went to the Greek Consulate General on Istiklal Street in Istanbul, where he arrived yesterday morning. Dendias was welcomed here by Georgia Soultanopoulou, Consul General of Greece in Istanbul. The two conversed in front of the consulate for a while.
Dendias welcomed the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, who came here after him.
Officials from the Consulate General of Greece in Istanbul and the Greek Patriarchate of Istanbul also took part in the meeting, which was closed to the press at the Consulate.
In his statement after the meeting, Bartholomew stated that they talked about the authority of the metropolitans in Greece and said, ”Our patriarchate has the authority and competence in some regions of Greece, in Crete Island, 12 Islands and in some regions. We talked about the issues that concern these regions in terms of religion and the church, we talked about common issues” he said.
Bartholomew also noted that he conveyed his thanks to Greek Prime Minister Kiryakos Mitsotakis for his interest in the patriarchate.
Referring to the meeting that is planned to take place today, Bartholomew said, “I told the Minister that we are very pleased that he will meet with Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu tomorrow.”
Dendias, who made a statement after the meeting, said, “We will meet with my friend Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu. I believe it will be a good meeting” he said. Denias and Çavuşoğlu will meet today.
