Turkish state minister visits Armenian church in Istanbul

PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkey’s state minister, chief EU negotiator Egemen Bagis paid a visit to the Surp Takavor Armenian Church in Istanbul to join people in their Easter prayers. “As long as we [the ruling party] have been in power, we have not intervened in anyone’s religion,” he said.

“People in Turkey have long believed they can change each other through pressure,” Bagıs said, adding that people instead have to work and live together in harmony, regardless of their religions or faiths, Hurriyet Daily reported.

“We haven’t intervened in anyone’s private life,” Bagıs said. He added that during the period the ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP, has been in power, everyone has felt freer to express their religious beliefs.

Head of the church foundation Shapuh Cholakyan expressed gratitude to Bagis, saying: “The situation has improved so much that we have forgotten the bitterness of past events.”