Turkey Is A Country Of Peace And Tolerance Where Religions Intersect

ANTAKYA - Edmond Farhat, the Ambassador of Vatican to Turkey, said on Sunday that ''Turkey was a country of peace and tolerance where religions intersected.''
Speaking on the ''Saint Pierre Day'' celebrated every year in Saint Pierre Church near southern Antakya province, Farhat made a call to leaders of all world countries for peace and tolerance.
Farhat recalled that Turkey had a special importance due to its geographical location and since it sheltered many religions.
Saint Pierre Day had a special importance for them, Farhat said.
Farhat noted that therefore, they held rite regularly every year in Antakya.
Existence of different religions, cultures and tradition was a special heritage for Turkey, Farhat stated.
Farhat said that wide tolerance of Turkey should be an example for other countries.
Calling on all world countries, Farhat said that they should make all the world adopt peace and tolerance instead of war.
Giving information about the church, Farhat said that Saint Pierre Church was one of the leading places where Christianity started to be spread.
Antakya Mayor Iris Senturk, Antakya Mufti Mustafa Varli, Police Chief Ihsan Unal, Kucuk Dalyan Mayor Vahip Sahil, many priests and religious officials attended the ceremony.
(BRC-AY) 29.06.2003