LAST UPDATE: 13:56
The mayor of Athens, Kostas Bakogiannis, and the mayor of Constantinople, Ekrem İmamoğlu, visited the Ecumenical Patriarchate in the morning. The two were received by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.
After the meeting with the Ecumenical Patriarch on Friday afternoon, Ekrem İmamoğlu and Kostas Bakoyannis will hold a meeting at the city hall of Constantinople to discuss issues of common interest between the two municipalities and will sign a memorandum of understanding, as reported by skai.gr.
When asked whether he had visited the Phanar, the mayor of Constantinople replied: “I have been there many times.”
Kostas Bakoyannis will then be guided to the sights of Constantinople by Ekrem İmamoğlu.
The mayor of Athens, Kostas Bakoyannis, stated that their joint presence at the Ecumenical Patriarchate sends a strong message “Our common presence here sends a strong message and has much symbolism. The seat of the Ecumenical Patriarchate is non-negotiable. The Ecumenical Patriarchate is an ark of love and hope for all. The Ecumenical Patriarchate is building bridges and tearing down walls,” said Bakoyannis.
The mayor of Constantinople stated that it is a great honor for him to host his friend, Kostas, in Constantinople.
“I also have the great honor of starting my day before the Patriarch. Today, Athens and Constantinople will experience a beautiful day. I believe that together we will be able to carry out the historical responsibility, to build a bridge of peace between Athens and Constantinople, full of beautiful feelings. It is a great satisfaction for us that an ancient city, such as Constantinople, is in historical coexistence with Athens, a coexistence that lasts for millennia. I hope that in the future, based on the relations between Athens and Constantinople, the relations between the two countries and the two peoples will be good”.