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Back Commissioner Hammarberg meets Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew

[22/01/07 18:30] Commissioner Hammarberg today met with the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, who was in Strasbourg to address the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly.

The Patriarch and the Commissioner discussed the state of inter-religious dialogue in Europe and in particular, religious freedom in Turkey.The Patriarch said he welcomed the recent decision of the European Court of Human Rights ruling in favour of the Greek Orthodox Community Foundation's property rights.

He also expressed hope that the ruling would lead to an improvement of a draft law in Turkey on foundations, and would have a positive impact on the situation of religious minorities in the country (especially with regard to their right to property).