Turkey demands explanation for Phanar's signing 'Peace Summit' Communiqué

Patriarch Bartholomew. Photo: nv.ua

Turkish authorities have requested explanations from the organizers of the Swiss peace conference on Ukraine due to the inclusion of the Ecumenical Patriarch in the list of signatories to the joint declaration.

Turkey's Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Onjyu Keçeli, denied reports that Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew participated in the summit and held bilateral meetings with Turkey's Foreign Minister.

"The reports stating that the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate participated in the peace summit on Ukraine held in Switzerland on June 15-16, 2024, with state status, and that Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan held an official meeting with Patriarch Bartholomew on the sidelines of the meeting, do not reflect reality. We have demanded explanations from Switzerland and Ukraine, as organizers [of the conference], regarding claims that the name of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate was later added as a signatory to the joint communique following the summit," the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement said.

Keçeli underscored that Turkey's state policy regarding the Phanar remains unchanged. Turkish authorities have repeatedly stated that they do not recognize Bartholomew's title as "Ecumenical Patriarch", noting that according to the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne, he retains the status of the head of the Greek Orthodox community in Turkey.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that Zelensky thanked the head of the Phanar for signing the 'Peace Summit' communique.

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