AYVACIK - Karastefanis Emmanuel (57) who is a priest in Mesetopas village of Lesbos island of Greece swam from Lesbos to Assos for Turkish-Greek friendship on Thursday.
Priest Emmanuel who started swimming from Lesbos at 7.00 a.m. completed the 5 miles journey in 12 hours and reached Assos coast. A special permission was taken from the Turkish government for the swim.
Priest Emmanuel who was accompanied by his two friends, was also accompanied by Turkish coast guard boat when they entered the Turkish territorial waters.
Ayvacýk head official Orhan Guldibi, Antinoluk municipality officials and citizens on the coast welcomed the Greek priest with flowers in Assos.
Priest Emmanuel said that ''we, two neighbour countries Turkey and Greece are one neighbourhood of the world. The quake which took place in Marmara in 1999 brought us closer. I've made plans for years to strengthen this friendship. I am pleased as I succeeded it today. Turkey has to join the EU in the shortest time possible. If this comes true, we can meet frequently.''
Turkish officials offered Priest Emmanuel to host him in the evening, but Emmanuel said that he promised his wife to return back to home in the evening. He returned back to Lesbos by boat.
(ÖÞ) 18.09.2003