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Athens News Agency - November 13, 1998

Patriarchate, Halki issues raised with Amnesty International

Athens, Greece, 13/11/1998 (ANA)

Archbishop of America Spyridon yesterday met with the director of Amnesty International USA, Steve Rickard, and the group's advocacy director for Europe and the Middle East.

During the meeting, Spyridon raised several issues regarding the recent persecution against the Theological School of Halki and the dismissal of its supervising board by Turkish authorities, as well as the safety of Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos.

Amnesty International expressed its concern and indicated an intention to pursue these issues as well as the broader matter of religious freedom for minorities in Turkey.

He also invited AI representatives to visit the Patriarchate and the Halki Academy. Along those lines, AI advocacy director Maureen Greenwood will travel to Istanbul next week and will meet with representatives of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

Spyridon also expressed his satisfaction with the positive response by AI to the issue.

[ Athens News Agency - www.ana.gr - November 13, 1998 ]