Interfaith Dialogue With Religious Leaders at Topkapi Palace

ILBER ORTAYLI, DIRECTOR OF TOPKAPI PALACE: Mrs. Under Secretary, Your Highness, Your Eminence, ladies and gentlemen, this is not the first time that the spiritual heads of the communities came to this palace and won’t be the last. We are very happy to have you here, madam, and leave you for your meeting. Thank you for coming.

UNDER SECRETARY HUGHES: Thank you so much. The tour was wonderful. Thank you. What a fabulous setting. It’s beautiful. Well, it’s an honor and great pleasure to be with you here this afternoon at this beautiful Topkapi Palace. It’s just a gorgeous place. We’ve just had a wonderful quick tour, a little too quick. I’ll have to come back when I can spend more time. But I’m so glad that you are here, and I want to thank the Government of Turkey for helping to make it available to us.

My brief tour helped bring some of Istanbul’s remarkable history to life for me, and I sincerely want to thank all the palace staff. I want to thank also each of you personally for joining this meeting. I understand there is an important interfaith meeting under way right now in Hatay. Some of you came from there and changed your schedules to be here with me. I really, really appreciate that and look forward to learning more about the meeting that you had there.

I’m here on my first trip abroad, really to listen and to learn. One of the things that President Bush, my boss, told me as I began this job was to take the time to reach out and meet with religious leaders -- because faith is such an important part of life for so many Americans and so many people across the world and, I think, to build better bridges of understanding and mutual respect it’s very important to work with members of the faith community. In fact, I have to say that you can probably blame President Bush for this meeting, because he met with many of the same group when he was here. He said that it was one of the most important and interesting and fascinating meetings of his presidency because there is such a rich mosaic here -- not only of the history of Turkey but the history of so many important faith traditions. So, one of the things I’ve learned just during my very short time here in Turkey already, just today, is that the people of Turkey and the people of America share a language, I think, of the heart. This is a very warm and welcoming and hospitable place – and that language of caring and concern is also very apparent in the wonderful outpouring of generosity that we experienced not only from the Government of Turkey, but also from the people of Turkey in the aftermath of the staggering natural disaster that we faced with Hurricane Katrina. I want to take this opportunity to express the gratitude of the American people to each and every person here in Turkey who brought a dollar or came by with a donation to our American Embassy. It meant so much to the people of my country.

We also share many values between the people of America and the people of Turkey: family, democracy, a belief in human rights and the importance of interfaith understanding and tolerance. And so I’m really here to listen to each of you, and I very much look forward to our discussion together. Thank you all for your time and for joining me here today.

Would each of you like to say a few words? One thing -- when you have a meeting of religious leaders, they are all so nice and tolerant that everyone defers to everyone else. (Laughter). But please.

MUSTAFA CAGRICI, MUFTI OF ISTANBUL: (Translated text) First of all, I would like to thank you very much for coming here and for inviting us here. I would also like to thank the distinguished religious leaders who have given me the first word. Especially democracy, family and interfaith relations are some common points that Turkey and the U.S. share, and you emphasize this. Now, I find this very meaningful, and I think these are very important points. Indeed, in the Western world -- and, of course, everywhere in the Western world in line with the rise of democracy -- family and interfaith relations did not develop at the same pace and with the same sound foundation, unfortunately. But I think that the United States has an important place and has some unique features. Turkey and the U.S. also share the fact that they attach importance to the family and to faith and to tolerance. So, I agree with what you have said and congratulate you on this very perceptive remark. And I will happy to say a few more words when it is my turn. Thank you very much.

MESROB MUTAFYAN, ARMENIAN PATRIARCH: It is a pleasure to meet you in Istanbul. We ourselves were just participating, as you mentioned, in a meeting of civilizations in Antioch, where we discussed the common problems that we will face worldwide and the role of religion. Not only in building up civilization, but also as a remedy to many of the problems that we live through today -- particularly living in the Near East or at the tip of Europe. We are particularly concerned about this West and East -- the blocs and the way that especially some thinkers are trying to promote a clash between civilizations. This is one of the main points that we discuss in these meetings -- and how to solve issues of this sort in terms of culture and religion especially. And how religious ministers could lead opinions which affect public opinion. So, it is particularly important for us in that sense that you are interested in bringing together the various religions and traditions in this country as you visit. We are grateful for this interest. Thank you.

ISAK HALEVA, CHIEF RABBI: (Translated text) First of all, let me say "welcome" before everything else. You have honored us with your presence and your smiling face gives us a lot of energy. Of course, between Turkey and the U.S. there have been wonderful relations in the past that will continue in the future -- because both the U.S. and Turkey have some common points with respect to faith, to cultures, to family. These are the things the two countries share. So, thank you very much for developing this nice atmosphere further. I believe that today, all around the world, religions can live in peace. This will certainly eliminate many problems in the world, because religions in the past did cause some conflicts. But today, there are other reasons apart from religion to fight. So, maybe religions can go back to their essential duty of promoting peace and love. Thank you very much for showing sensitivity and interest. I am sure you will succeed in your task. We are very hopeful about this. Thank you very much. May God be with you and be with us.

UNDER SECRETARY HUGHES: Thank you so much.

YUSUF CETIN, SYRIAN METROPOLITAN: I would like to bid you a warm welcome to Istanbul. Last June, we had the chance to be present during the visit of Mr. Bush. We had a wonderful atmosphere – a very useful meeting then – and I am sure that today’s meeting will also be very beneficial for everyone. Religious leaders and religious officers must pray to contribute to world peace. You, the politicians, I think can emphasize peace more. I think that for world peace, religious leaders and politicians are the two parties that have very big tasks to fulfill, more than ever today. We need to pray much more for world peace, and politicians need to work much more seriously for world peace. Religious leaders, of course, are not politicians, but for world peace we are ready to discuss any topic, we are ready to be present at any gathering so long as it calls for peace to reign all over the world -- because we have the tears and screams of war. These make all countries in the world very troubled. We believe that when there are good intensions in a meeting like this, God will hear our voice, respond to our goodwill and hopefully will show us good days in the future. Thank you.

UNDER SECRETARY HUGHES: Thank you so much.

Let me introduce Dina Powell. Dina, would you like to speak? Dina is my deputy and our Assistant Secretary for Education and Cultural Affairs. One of the things I have asked her to do as she leads America’s exchange programs is to really look at people who influence young people. People like all of you in this room. As you know, faith leaders, clerics, religious leaders have enormous influence, and I’ve asked her to consider exchange programs that would help foster interfaith dialogue and a spirit of tolerance and understanding and so….

ASSISTANT SECRETARY DINA POWELL: Thank you. It is a great honor for me to be here, to meet with all of you, and I want to second everything that Karen just said. You are not only amazing leaders of faith, but like you said, you really are leaders of people and of societies. And yes, two days ago, when we were in Cairo, we had the privilege of meeting the Grand Sheik Tantawi of Al-Azar University, and then we met with His Holiness Pope Shenouda. They, like you, are amazing examples. And so I really hope that we can invite you to come to the United States and share how wonderful it is to be men of faith who respect each other’s faith -- because, of course, the God of all of us believes in tolerance and love, and I know you are living it every single day. We really are so honored to use you as amazing role models and are looking forward to working with you. Thank you very much.

UNDER SECRETARY HUGHES: Professor, would you like to say a few words?

AKIF AYDIN, ISLAMIC RESEARCH CENTER PRESIDENT: (Translated Text) I would like to say welcome to all of you. One thing I would like to add to what has been said so far is that people of different religions and different cultures can live together. I think one of the best places to discuss the problems of such coexistence is this very city, because in this city, in this geography -- for at least six centuries, people of different cultural and religious backgrounds have lived together. We have a lot of experience in this field. And I hope that this experience will serve the population of the whole world. Thank you very much and welcome once more.

UNDER SECRETARY HUGHES: Thank you so much. Monsignor, would you like --

FATHER DOSITHEOS, REPRESENTATIVE OF ECUMENICAL PATRIARCHATE: (Translated text) Most of the important things have been expressed. Let me tell you another story. Turkey is a very nice country. It is beautiful, and the evidence that made me think of this is that I spent 35 years of my life in Germany. I was born in Kadikoy, and I left this country in 1961, vowing never to come back. But 35 years later, I came back to Turkey. The nice thing about Turkey is that Anatolian lands and soils are holy lands and holy soils. As you get old like me, you understand this. The problems of Turkey are problems that concern everyone -- positive thinking is required, and all kinds of opinions are positive contributions. Welcome to this very beautiful country. I have also one sentence to say about the States: when I was a child, America to me resembled the Statute of Liberty, and I still believe that. Your presence today opens up the avenues for liberty. I hope you will assist us in solving our problems through avenues of liberty and freedom. I would like to greet you all. Thank you very much.

UNDER SECRETARY HUGHES: Thank you. I’m going to call on the Monsignor. But first I wanted to quickly say that at my last stop here in Istanbul, I visited a park -- a wonderful volunteer program, an after-school program for young children. One of the young women there who volunteers -- she’s a teenager and she volunteers, working with the younger children -- she asked me, does the Statue of Liberty really mean anything or is it just a symbol? I told her it really means something, and someone commented to me that the Statue of Liberty faces out and says welcome -- and we very much in our country want to face out and say welcome. We want to partner with the people of Turkey. We want Turkish students and clerics and faith leaders and teachers and all sorts of citizens to come visit our country. We want Americans to come visit Turkey and to learn more about Turkey and I was pleased as I was touring the palace to see a couple of people from Texas, and a couple from New York. and also a couple from Bahrain on their honeymoon. This is a wonderful city that welcomes many, many visitors, and you do have a unique opportunity, I think, to really focus on the values that we all have in common as human beings.

MONSIGNOR GEORGES MAROVITCH, CATHOLIC BISHOP: (Translated text) I am here as the spokesman of the Catholic communities in Turkey. I would like to welcome you on behalf of all Catholic communities in Turkey. I know that this great country is going through many problems; please be assured that we will pray for world peace, and we will support you through our prayers.

As you know, Turkey has a very important history. For centuries, people of different ethnic and religious backgrounds have lived together. In that sense, Turkey is a very experienced country and a very experienced nation. It can teach others many lessons – like we have this wonderful bunch of flowers. And Turkey is just like this – there are yellow flowers, red flowers, purple flowers…. And here, we are people of different religions, and we will always have our Muslim brothers respecting us. They have done so in the past – they have treated us with love and respect.

I will give you a small example. I do not know if you have had a chance to see, but we have a very large institution set up in the 19^th century. It is a nursing home called Darulacize. It is for the elderly and for babies, infants deserted by their parents. In the 19th century, this institution was set up – and at that time there was no other institution in Europe that would open up its doors to people of different religions. But the Sultan here set up one mosque, one synagogue and one church in that nursing home, so that everyone could worship according to their own religion. This can be an example to the whole world. Turks drew this idea from their holy book, from the Koran: In the 5-28 verse of the Maide Surah it says, "If God wished to create you as single nation, he would have done so – but he wanted you to be of different faiths, so that you would raise your beauties and compete with your beauties." This competition has been going on for centuries – but sometimes in that competition, some of us stumbled and some of us made others fall down. We have had some unpleasant events. But we are now making very big strides. In Antioch, as you know, we had this big conference for interfaith dialogue regarding working together for world peace. In Turkey, we have been having similar events very often, so we are very hopeful about the future. Turkey should be a model and example for the world.

I would like to conclude here by saying that you should be sure that there is only one assistant in our work -- that is God, Allah. Muslims pray a lot every day -- they pray 5 times -- and through their prayers, Allah, God, protects our world. As you know, the month of Ramadan is coming. They will be fasting for 30 days, they will be praying, and these prayers will fall on earth just like raindrops that will bring good crops. Our great country, Turkey, and the whole world will benefit from them. Thank you very much.

UNDER SECRETARY HUGHES: Thank you so much. We have much to learn from the rich history and tradition of Turkey, and I’m here to learn. I want to thank the press for being here, and we look forward to continuing our meeting in just a minute. Thank you all.