Foreign Ministry spokesperson Konstantinos Koutras said the following in response to a journalist’s question on statements from a Turkish official regarding respect for religious freedoms in Greece.
“On Thursday, 8 August, by permission of the Municipality of Thessaloniki, morning prayer service was held for the first time, after 90 years, at the Geni Mosque in Thessaloniki, which functioned as a mosque for the Bairam prayer, a move that is wholly positive with regard to the performance of the religious duties of Muslims in Greece.
Greece implements its Constitution – which fully protects religious freedoms – as well as the Community Acquis, as a member state of the EU.
Greece respects international law, is a model of longstanding harmonious coexistence of citizens, regardless of creed, and, of course, does not negotiate with anyone the upholding of legality within its territory.
We are pleased that Turkey has accepted as its goal the full incorporation of European legal culture, fundamental to which is respect for religious freedom and human rights.”
August 9, 2013