The Orthodox Church Info blog reports today (March 30, 2012) that Turkey has decided to reopen a former Greek Orthodox seminary on an island off the coast of Istanbul, according to a statement made by U.S. President Barack Obama.
"I express my congratulations to the prime minister (Recep Tayyip Erdogan) for his efforts to protect the rights of religious minorities. I am very pleased to hear his decision to reopen Halki Seminary on Heybeliada," Obama stated following a private talk with Erdogan on March 25.
The two leaders held wide-ranging talks covering Syria, Iran, the fight against terrorism, and protection of minorities on the eve of the Nuclear Security Summit in Seoul.
Turkey was listed in a 2012 U.S. report on religious freedoms as being one of the world's worst violators of religious freedoms. The report caused widespread outrage among Turkish politicians.
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