by Romfea.news
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Markos Bolaris received US Ambassador to Greece Geoffrey Pyatt, on Thursday, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The discussion was focused on topical issues of the Deputy Minister’s portfolio, with particular emphasis on cultural and religious issues.
The Deputy Minister referred to the priorities of cultural, environmental and religious diplomacy, and focused on initiatives undertaken for joint cultural actions with Italy, Egypt, Turkey and Israel.
He underlined the positive prospects for the reopening of the Halki seminary, after the last visit of the Greek Prime Minister to Turkey.
The US Ambassador resumed the steady position of the American Government for the reopening of the Patriarchal Theological School of Halki.
The Ambassador particularly referred to Mount Athos as the spiritual center of the Orthodox monasticism and expressed the interest of American citizens in this regard.
In conclusion, the Deputy Minister briefed Mr. Pyatt on the two-day conference organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on 28 February and 1 March, on “Religious and Ecclesiastical Diplomacy in the 21st Century”, involving ecclesiastical agencies of all religions in Greece, to which he invited him.
Ambassador Pyatt stated his presence and his support for this two-day conference and informed the Deputy Minister of the great interest shown by US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo on Religious Freedom.
Geoffrey Pyatt referred to the intention of the United States to maintain the positive momentum in Greek-American relations.