ISTANBUL - The leaders of the religious communities in Istanbul issued statements on Wednesday opposing to a possible operation in Iraq and said they favour peace.
Istanbul mayor Ali Mufit Gurtuna met with leaders of the religious communities in Istanbul the same day.
Addressing the meeting, Gurtuna said that the whole world and humanity needed love, not violence, adding that ''it is religion which will meet this need of humanity.''
Gurtuna said that they want to undertake the civil administration reform in local administrations, adding that the world faces a big threat. ''It is more obligatory today to fight against ignorance, and violence.''
Replying questions on a possible operation against Iraq, Fener Greek Patriarch Bartholemeos said that all religious leaders around the table were against a possible war against Iraq.
He said that they, as religious leaders, were in favor of peace and noted that they were following Prime Minister Abdullah Gul's visits for finding a peaceful solution to the issue to some Middle East countries with appreciation.
Bartholemeos stated that he hoped that those visits would yield good results and current problems would be solved with peaceful ways, saying that they hoped that there would not be bloodshed in the region.
Stating that he wished that God would protect Turkey and the World from a war, Bartholemeos said that as religious leaders, they would support peace under any condition.
Turkish Armenians Patriarch Mesrob II said that they devoted themselves to peace and unity and noted that religious leaders would pray for peace in different churches every day till Friday.
Stating that they felt shadow of war as of Christmas and they had concerns related to a possible war, Mesrob II said that a war would not only harm innocent people in Iraq, but also spiritual life and economy in the region.
Istanbul Syrian-Orthodox Community Spiritual leader Yusuf Cetin recalled that big fish ate small fish and said that people were harming each other.
He said that they wished that people's heart would have love and mercy and added that everybody had responsibilities on that issue.
Turkey's Chief Rabbi Isak Haleva, Vatican's Istanbul Representative Georges Marovitch, Istanbul Spiritual Leader of Latin Community Louis Pelatre and other representatives also attended the meeting.