TURKISH SYRIAC CATHOLIC PATRIARCH LAUNCHES ‘FRUITS OF DIALOGUE’

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
Dec 11 2013

11 December 2013 /TUÐBA MEZARARKALI, ÝSTANBUL

“Diyaloðun Meyveleri” (Fruits of Dialogue), a book by Deputy Patriarch
of the Turkish Syriac Catholic Church Yusuf Sað, was launched at a
reception held at Taksim Green Park Hotel in Ýstanbul on Tuesday night.

The event, organized by the Intercultural Dialogue Platform (KADÝP)
of the Journalists and Writers Foundation (GYV), was attended by Greek
Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew, GYV President Mustafa Yeþil and GYV
Deputy President Cemal Uþak, Ýstanbul Mufti Professor Rahmi Yaran,
Armenian Orthodox Archbishop Aram Ateþyan, Turkish Syriac Orthodox
Archbishop Yusuf Cetin and many other guests, in addition to the book’s
author. Messages from EU Minister Egemen Baðýþ, Ýstanbul Governor
Huseyin Avni Mutlu and Ýstanbul Mayor Kadir Topbaþ were read out at
the event.

Delivering a speech at the event, Bartholomew praised the role of
Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gulen in promoting dialogue among
different faiths.

“Considering that an important goal of dialogue is to get to know each
other and that the first steps were taken fearfully to this effect,
we always remember the courageous approach of Fethullah Gulen with
praise,” he said.

Voicing his wish for an increase in the number of people who work
to develop feelings of empathy and understanding, he said the event,
organized by KADÝP for the “Diyaloðun Meyveleri” book, is the concrete
and meaningful result of dialogue.

The writer, Sað, said his book explains what dialogue means. Giving
some information about the content of the book, he said he tried to
highlight the importance given by Gulen to education and hard work
in his book.

Sað said: “They [followers of the Hizmet movement inspired by Gulen]
are working for the welfare, peace and happiness of humanity. Gulen
is, too. I set out with a belief in this. This book is a summary
of their efforts.” He offered his thanks to everyone who helped him
write the book.

The Hizmet movement is a group of volunteers engaged in interfaith and
intercultural dialogue inspired by the ideas of Gulen, whose teachings
promote mutual understanding and tolerance between cultures. Now
residing in the US, Gulen has pioneered educational activities in a
number of countries, along with efforts to promote intercultural and
interfaith activities around the world.

The GYV’s Yeþil, who also spoke at the event, said dialogue is not
a preference but an obligatory choice.

“We have never seen dialogue as something we do in our spare time. We
saw it as an obligatory thing. We saw it as a practice whose absence
cannot be compensated,” he said.

Armenian Orthodox Archbishop Ateþyan said there is need to join in
dialogue for the benefit of humanity even if dialogue efforts prove
fruitless.

“We will eat that fruit [of dialogue]. This book shows us a path. We
need the views of every wise person. I offer my thanks to the GYV
for playing a role in this holy mission,” he said.

The 123-page-long book is divided into three chapters titled “Meaning
of dialogue,” “Dialogue works” and “Dialogue: a solution, an approach
or search?”

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress