Inside the Tsipras Visit: Greece, Turkey and Constantinople

The visit of Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras to Istanbul and environs on 5 February 2019 is still resonating in the media.It has taken on a life of its own, pointing the way to answers of seemingly intractable problems.
His Eminence Metropolitan Elpidoforos of Proussos (Bursa, Turkey),a Turkish citizen many see as a potential successor to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew or  Archbishop Demitrios of America, recently gave an interview to Ethnos about the Tsipras visit to the Halki Theological School on Heybeliada Island,in the Sea of Marmara near Constantinople:
We are all very happy about Mr.Tsipras' historic visit.We lived truly touching moments with the Greek Prime Minister approaching, worshipping at the Halki Theological School, taking part in the Divine Liturgy that was Presided  by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.
All of these things happened on a very important day: the feast day of St..Photios the Great, the founder of our monastery.The Prime Minister was shown around the empty classrooms and the library by the Patriarch himself.Together, they planted a tree in the historic garden of the School,in the presence of the representative of the Turkish President,Mr.Erdogan.All these things create,I believe,a psychological and political climate where we can truly begin to speak about a jump forward, walking towards the direction of the reopening of the School.*
The entire atmosphere of the Theological School and his visit, which began with his​ attending the Divine Liturgy, brought the Prime Minister to a state of spirituality.From the moment he lit his candles, you had the feeling that his face shone.*

I believe that we are very close to the phase where Greece and Turkey will be able to surpass these difficulties and tensions.All the prerequisites for this to happen exist.*
I believe that all these "skirmishes" that are pointed out today are precisely the pain of the figuritive childbirth of a peaceful and friendly coexistence between the two nations, which is the prerequisite, the oxygen which the Halki Theological School will breathe and will re-open.I am optimistic.*
Mr.Tsipras planted a tree with the Ecumenical Patriarch and Ibrahim Kalin, President Erdogan's spokesman and National Security Advisor.
Mr.Tsipras said:
The reopening of the School will not be a point or a message of discord or dispute, or differentiation or division; but it will be a message of friendship, mutual understanding and brotherhood between our two peoples.*
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew said:
This is a nest of science and culture.It is inexplicable that a school that was founded and opened in 1844 during the Ottoman period, was closed down during the Republican period, and has been closed for half a century.
The Orthodox Church and, in general, the contemporary world, are in need of theologians and religious leaders without blinders,fundamentalism or intolerance-ministers of dialogue and love.*

Earlier in the day,Mr.Tsipras visited the landmark cathedral of the Byzantine Empire,Hagia Sophia, but declined to make any remarks for the press.

Greek Prime Minister Visits Turkey,Meeting with Patriarch Bartholomew and President Erdogan

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has made an official visit to Turkey,showing support for the Ecumenical Patriarchate while keeping the Greek-Turkish dialogue alive.On 6 February 2019,Mr.Tsipras attended a Divine Liturgy with His All-Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople at Holy Trinity Monastery on Heybeliada Island,Turkey.The monastery grounds contain the shuttered Halki Theological School,which the Turkish authorities closed in the 1970s.Later in the day,Mr.Tsipras called for the reopening of the School,which,he said:
would be evidence of friendship,mutual understanding and brotherhood.
Religious faith should bring people together,not divide them.*
The School was founded in 1844.Its alumni include several luminaries,among them being the late Patriarch of Constantinople Athenagoras,as well as Patriarch Bartholomew.*
Prime Minister Tsipras was the first Greek premier to visit the School in more than 90 years.Later on Wednesday,he visited what many consider to have been the greatest church of the Byzantine era,Hagia Sophia in Istanbul.*
On Tuesday 5 February,Mr.Tsipras met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the Turkish capital Ankara,seeking to bolster relations between the two neighbours.Positive results of the talks included keeping the lines of communication open;arranging a meeting between the Greek and Turkish ministers of defence;and establishing a Greek/Turkish business forum in Thessaloniki,Greece.
President Erdogan said all issues between the two NATO Allies could be solved:
on an equitable basis and in a peaceful way.*
Mr.Erdogan linked the Halki Theological School reopening to the issue of the treatment of Turks living in Western Thrace,Greece,including their right to elect their own muftis.A set of talks should be held to resolve both issues.

Former Yugoslav Republic Takes First Step to NATO Membership

There were smiles all round at NATO's  new headquarters in Brussels,Belgium today,18 October 2018,as the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia began Accession Talks with NATO,the first formal step in the process of applying for Alliance membership.The talks will run for two days.*
FYROM uses the name Macedonia,which is also the name of a province in Northern Greece.FYROM not only claims the name,but also the same heritage as the Greeks in that province,tracing it back to the Greek king Alexander the Great and his Macedonian Empire.This posture angers many Greeks,who see it as a threat to Greek sovereignty.
Nonetheless,the Greek SYRIZA party now in power,led by Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras,considers the dispute a hindrance to the development of both FYROM and Greece,as well as a danger to European stability.Thus the Greek government  entered into successful negotiations with FYROM and they reached agreement on a new name in June 2018:North Macedonia.*
The Brussels talks are headed by FYROM's Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Radmila Sekerinska-Jankouska and NATO Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs and Security Policy Alejandro Alvargonzalez.They include detailed discussion of the political,legal and military requirements for NATO membership.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg explained:
Once all the constitutional changes on the new name are completed,we can sign the Accession Protocol.

Patriarch Bartholomew Visits Prime Minister Tsipras of Greece - the Patriarch's thoughts at a major Middle East conference in Athens

On 31 October 2017,His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople was received at the Maximos Mansion in Athens by Prime Minister of Greece Alexis Tsipras.Their talks lasted over an hour,thoroughly covering several issues of mutual concern.They also held discussions on the sidelines of the Second Athens Conference on Religious and Cultural Pluralism in the Middle East,which was held from 29-31 October.
The Patriarch was accompanied by His Eminence Metropolitan Emmanuel of France and His Eminence Metropolitan Athenagoras of Cydonia.Also joining the confidential talks was the Greek Deputy Foreign Minister Yiannis Amanatidis,who covers Church and Cultural Diplomacy.*
The Athens Conference is the initiative of His Excellency Professor Nikos Kotzias,Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs.Besides Patriarch Bartholomew and Prime Minister Tsipras,also attending the Athens Conference were His Beatitude Archbishop Ieronymos II of Athens and All Greece;His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem and All Palestine;His Beatitude Patriarch Theodoros II of Alexandria and All Africa;and His Excellency Sameh Shukrey,Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs.*
Patriarch Bartholomew made a number of incisive observations at the Athens Conference,including:
As is well known,whenever people ignore or discontinue dialogue,taking the place of dialogue are monolithic ideologies,totalitarian regimes,the cruel demagogy,and,ultimately,weapons,destruction,and death.
This is why we recommend a dialogue of truth and love,which promotes mutual trust and empowers participants to assume the necessary initiatives and responsibilities together.Sincere dialogue can change the flow of history.*
Thus,we consider imperative the expansion,elevation and establishment of interreligious dialogue at every level,while bearing in mind past failures,present needs,and future prospects.As unrest increases daily throughout the world,it incites unhealthy feelings of insecurity,depression,and suspicion of new,unpleasant,and dire surprises.
Interreligious dialogue is obligated and able to acquire value,purpose and effectiveness only if we are able to rid people of faith from the fear that pan-religious syncretism is allegedly pursued through such dialogue.*
The tragic suffering of the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle Eastern peoples has already caused and continues to cause a great deal of devastation in human relations,as well as in the natural,cultural,and religious environment.This is precisely why the highest level of mobilisation will be required for interreligious cooperation and the handling of ongoing religious crises,the healing of the emotional wounds of people-which are perpetuated by this conflict-but also for the cultivation of a moderate atmosphere for the restoration of a peaceful coexistence among religions and civilisations.*
The First Athens Conference was held in 2015.