Bartholomew's speech in the European Parliament

TO THE PLENARY ASSEMBLY OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

(Brussels, September 24, 2008)

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Your Excellency Mr President of the European Parliament,
Your Excellencies, Honorable Members of the European Parliament,
Distinguished Guests,
Dear Friends,

First and foremost, we convey to you salutations from the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, based for many many centuries in what is today Istanbul – greetings replete with esteem and respect. In particular, we express our gratitude to an old friend of ours, His Excellency Hans-Gert Pöttering, President of the European Parliament. We likewise express our sincerest appreciation for the extraordinary honor to address the Plenary of the European Parliament, especially on this occasion that commemorates the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue…………..

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