ISTANBUL - A group of 266 Greek Cypriot nurses and doctors who came to Turkey after attending a meeting in Greece visited Fener Greek Orthodox Patriarchate and Hagia Sophia Museum on Friday.
The group lit candles and prayed in the church of the patriarchate and attended the ceremony held by the Fener Greek Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomeos.
Replying questions of reporters following the ceremony what he said in his speech during the ceremony which was held in Greek language, Bartholomeos said that he expressed the pleasure he felt with the visit of Greek Cypriot citizens to Turkey.
Bartholomeos noted that he called on the Greek Cypriots to come to Turkey without any hesitations and gave message of peace.
''Now, everybody will have the opportunity to come to Istanbul and visit historical places. I thank everybody for this beautiful change. I hope peace and friendship to be continuos. We are very pleased to see that our prayers have come true and we are hopeful,'' Bartholomeos said.
Chryso Deligianni, one of the members of the tourist group, said that they did not know about Turkey before and expressed admiration of Istanbul.
Asked about views on solution in Cyprus, Deligianni said that they wanted love and peace in the world and they did not have any problem with any country.
Anastasia Haralambos said that this was her first time in Turkey and she was very pleased.
Haralambos stated that they were experiencing very emotional moments to see both Istanbul and the Patriarchate.
The group later visited the Hagia Sophia Museum.
The Greek Cypriots will return to Salonica on Saturday.
(BRC-AÖ) 23.05.2003