NEW YORK - Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan criticized on Tuesday Greek Cypriot church of deteriorating Cyprus peace process by provoking statements instead of helping the process.
Prime Minister Erdogan received Orthodox Church in America Patriarch Demetrios and some leading U.S. businessmen with Greek origin in New York.
Erdogan conveyed his message about Greek Cypriot church to Patriarch Demetrios during the meeting.
Prime Ministry Chief Adviser Nabi Avci, who also attended the meeting, told reporters that patriarch expressed deep sorrow over the terrorist attacks in Istanbul which were staged in November 2003 and offered his condolences for the victims.
The patriarch also said that statements of Turkish prime minister and government about a solution in Cyprus were raising hopes.
Avci quoted Patriarch Demetrios as saying that the Greeks living in the United States supported Cyprus peace process.
Patriarch Demetrios extended their support to Turkey's European Union (EU) and reiterated their demand for opening of Heybeliada Seminary.
In the meeting, Demetrios asked Turkey to permit display of a historical icon in Heybeliada in an exhibition to be opened in New York Metropolitan Museum on March 15.
Erdogan said that he would deal with that request after he returned to Ankara.
Avci said that in return for demand for Heybeliada Seminary, Turkish side brought forth reciprocity in Western Thrace.
U.S. businessmen with Greek origin namely George Behrakis, Nicholas Bouras and Michael Jaharis, Justice and Development Party (AK Party) deputy Egemen Bagis, Prime Minister Erdogan's adviser Cuneyt Zapsu, Turkey's Ambassador to the United States Faruk Logoglu, Turkey's Permanent Representative to United Nations (U.N.) Umit Pamir and Turkey's Consul General in New York Omer Onhon participated in the meeting.
Prime Minister Erdogan later received administrators of federation headed by Federation of Turkish American Associations (FTAA) President Ata Erim, administrators of Business Forum formed by Turkish businessmen living in the United States, and administrators of Turkish American Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
(BRC-AÖ) 27.01.2004