Istanbul - Greece's Foreign Minister, Mr George Papandreou, yesterday pledged to use improved relations with Turkey to seek the reopening of an Orthodox seminary.
Greeted by pealing church bells when he visited the Orthodox Patriarchate in the Phanar district of the city, Mr Papandreou said he strongly backed a request from the Patriarchate for Turkish permission to train and initiate clergy at the school on the island of Heybeliada, known as Halki in Greek. "I very much support your very justified demand for the reopening of Halki," Mr Papandreou told Patriarch Bartholomeos at a reception at the Patriarchate.