President Stevo Pendarovski, as part of his working visit to the Republic of Turkey, met today in Istanbul with His Holiness Bartholomew, Archbishop of Constantinople – New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch.
The meeting discussed the situation in the Orthodox world, the role of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in promoting inter-Christian dialogue and coexistence between different peoples and religions. In that regard, President Pendarovski stressed the importance of the role of the Ecumenical Patriarch in fostering dialogue on all open issues in the Orthodox world.
Moreover, the meeting discussed the issue of resolving the status of the Macedonian Orthodox Church – Orchid Archbishopric and on that occasion President Pendarovski said that the Ecumenical Patriarch has a special role in overcoming the church dispute. At the same time, President Pendaroski called for the dispute to be resolved as soon as possible, because, as he pointed out, the wound in one place in the Orthodox world hurts throughout the Orthodox world.
The meeting also exchanged views on the situation in the region related to the latest developments regarding the integration of the countries into the European Union, with Patriarch Bartholomew emphasizing that he supports North Macedonia’s EU membership, which, by meeting the criteria, would bring a better life, increased solidarity and tolerance.
