Heybeliada Seminary Can Be Opened If It Complies With Turkish Regulations

IZMIR (AA) - ``Heybeliada Seminary can be opened only if it complies with Turkish regulations. A special status cannot be granted to a single institution,`` said Turkish State Minister Mehmet Aydin.
     Aydin told reporters, ``neither I nor Turkish government objected opening of Heybeliada Seminary so far. It is important to adjust the Seminary to Turkish regulations. It will be an education institution of Turkey. Thus, the seminary should comply with Turkish regulations.``
     ``Heybeliada Seminary should be subject to similar conditions with other educational institutions in Turkey,`` he added.
     ``Our citizens of Orthodox belief are in question in this issue. We cannot intervene in their education and religious freedom,`` noted Aydin.

2005-05-04