Pinto: All Jewish World Should Be Against Efforts Concerning So-called Genocide Wanted To Be Kept Equal To Jewish Genocide

ISTANBUL - Turkish Jewish Community Chairman Bension Pinto said on Wednesday that all Jewish world should be against efforts concerning so-called genocide which was wanted to be kept equal to Jewish genocide.
Speaking at a ceremony hosted in honor of President Moshe Katzav of Israel, who is currently paying an official visit to Turkey, by Turkish Chief Rabbinate in Istanbul's Neve Shalom Synagogue, Pinto stressed that both Ottoman Empire and Turkey received Jewish people who escaped from cruelty with open arms and stated that Jewish people lived in this country peacefully.
Pinto said that Turkey which adopted Ataturk's principle ''Peace at Home, Peace in the World'' in its foreign policy would play an active role for regional peace and noted that all Jewish world should be against efforts concerning so-called genocide which was wanted to be kept equal to Jewish genocide.
Chief Rabbi Ishak Haleva said that he was very pleased with Israeli President Katzav's visit to Turkish Jewish Community and pointed out Katzav's efforts for further improving relations between Turkey and Israel.
Istanbul Governor Muammer Guler, Mayor Ali Mufit Gurtuna, officials and community members also attended the ceremony.
(EÖ-AÖ) 09.07.2003