US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrived in Constantinople this afternoon, where he is expected to meet with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.
Ankara expressed its anger last week over the State Department’s inclusion of the matter of “religious freedom” on the agenda of Pompeo’s visit to Turkey. The head of the American diplomacy is not expected to meet with Turkish officials during his stay in the country.
It is recalled that Pompeo will visit the Ecumenical Patriarch in order to discuss with him issues of religious interest in Turkey and the wider region and to promote the strong US stance on religious freedom around the world.
The announcement of the Ecumenical Patriarchate characteristically stated that such visits demonstrate the significance and standing of the Ecumenical Patriarchate as an institution with a history of many centuries, with an invaluable offering and contribution to global civilization.