Representatives of Turkish and Syrian religious authorities to meet in Aleppo and Gaziantep

ANKARA (A.A) - 24.02.2011 - Representatives of Turkey's and Syria's religious affairs authorities will soon meet in the Syrian city of Aleppo and Turkish province of Gaziantep to discuss regional problems and cooperation opportunities in religious services.
Mehmet Gormez, the head of Turkish Religious Affairs Directorate, and Syria's grand mufti Sheik Ahmad Badereddine Hassoun met in capital Ankara on Thursday.
Speaking at a joint press conference after the gathering, Gormez said Turkey and Syria could establish a remarkable cooperation in religious education and religious services.
Gormez said that Turkish and Syrian religious scholars had similar views regarding religious matters, and therefore, their cooperation in religious issues would constitute a significant service for both the region and the world.
Commenting on his meeting with Hassoun, Gormez said they had mutually decided that Turkish and Syrian religious affairs authorities shall hold joint meetings in near future.
"One of these meetings will be held in Aleppo and the other one will take place in Gaziantep. Muftis and leading religious scholars from both countries will discuss regional problems, cooperation opportunities in religious services and religious education, as well as ways to contribute to regional and global peace during these gatherings," he said.
Hassoun said in his part that Turkey was both the Islamic world's gate to Europe and Europe's door to Arab countries.
Hassoun also noted that religious affairs authorities should fight with Islamaphobia and try to reflect Islam's real image.
Describing theocratic states as dangerous structures, Hassoun said they wanted social and modern states that respected all religions.