ATHENS - Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said on Wednesday that he believed that Greece, being a member of European Union (EU), would not make discrimination among its citizens on issues like religion and education.
Gul, currently on an official visit to Athens, received Mehmet Emin Aga, the Mufti of Xanthi, who was elected by
the Turkish minority living in Western Thrace, Komotini Mufti Ibrahim Serif, and PASOK parliamentarians Galip Galip
and Ahmet Mehmet.
Gul, who made a statement after the meetings, expressed pleasure over seeing the positive developments in the
recent period. Gul said, ''religion is an individual preference, and it is natural that people wish to elect their
own religious leaders and mufti. Civilized world attributes great importance to this. We wish Turkish minority to use
their rights like the other Greek citizens.''
Gul later participated a breakfast hosted by Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou where bilateral, regional
and economic issues would be evaluated. Finance Minister Kemal Unakitan, State Minister responsible for economy Ali
Babacan, Greek Finance and Economy Minister Nikos Khristodoulakis and governors of Central Banks of two countries
attended the meeting.
Gul will later be received by Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis.
Foreign Minister Gul is later expected to proceed to Sarajevo to participate in funeral of former President of
Bosnia-Herzegovina Aliya Izzetbegovic.
(AY) 22.10.2003