Arinc says government meets rightful demand of citizens living in this country for centuries

Turkish State Minister & Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc visited Fener Greek Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew on Monday.
Speaking to journalists after his visit, Arinc said, "as the government, we consider meeting rightful demands of our citizens living on this country for centuries as our duty".
Arinc said this was his first visit to the Patriarchate, noting, "it has two reasons. We entered a new year. I came here to congratulate 2011 and to wish health and happiness in this new year. Secondly, during our meeting with Mr. Bartholomew last August, I told him I would visit him. I wish this visit to be a beneficial start."
Arinc said he undertook responsibility to ensure different belief groups to live in peace and happiness in Turkey, "the community foundations and the Patriarchate may have many needs and demands. From time to time, we have talks with Mr. Patriarch and his workmates to meet the demands within the scope of law."
"New arrangements were made with the new Law on Foundations. We should grant the rights within the scope of those arrangements. Our political will is strong in this respect. The application made by Republican People’s Party (CHP) for the new Foundations Law was rejected by the Constitutional Court. We are the owner of a civilization complying with the rights, beliefs, and culture of others. We are obliged to establish and maintain good relations all of our citizens," he said.
Arinc said, "we take into consideration the problems of foundations, community, the patriarchate and the peoples with respect to laws. We have not granted anything regarding the seminary on our own. Requirements of law were made. Both the decision of the European Human Rights Court and decision of a Turkish local court showed ownership of the deed of the orphanage to the Patriarchate."
Attorney of Greek Orthodox Patriarchate Cem Sofuoglu had earlier been given the deed transferring Greek Orthodox orphanage for boys in Buyukada in Istanbul to the Patriarchate.
"Works on other issues continue. There are the decisions of the Constitutional Court. There are some other legal impediments and issues which we consider as obstacle stemming from some international agreements. We will overcome all of them. As a requirement of law, those should be restituted to right holders. We will do what the laws order to us," Arinc said.
Arinc became the second statesman and deputy prime minister visiting Fener Greek Orthodox Patriarchate after the visit of Adnan Menderes, one of the former prime ministers, in 1952.
Fener Greek Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew said the new Foundations Law brought some new opportunities to the communities although it was not satisfactory 100 percent.
"We want new and further steps to be taken, and of course, we expect our seminary to be opened," Bartholomew told reporters after the visit of Arinc.
Bartholomew said he thanked to Arinc regarding initiatives made to their community and the other communities, and noted that, "those are not the initiatives for Armenians, Jews or Greek Orthodox but initiatives towards democracy. Those are the initiatives made to make Turkey more modern."
Arinc said they expressed their expectations during the meeting.
Bartholomew said some high ranking religious functionary affiliated with the Patriarchate were given citizenship of Turkish Republic with the personal initiatives of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, "this is a very important step for the future of our patriarchate. We appreciate the decision of the government and its assistance to us. We express our gratitude to Justice and Development (AK) Party Government.