Dechert Meets Religious Leaders and Visits Syrian Refugee Camps in Turkey

Ankara, Turkey – Bob Dechert, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Member of Parliament for Mississauga-Erindale, travelled to Turkey to meet with religious leaders and visit two Syrian refugee camps.
While in Turkey, Dechert joined the Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, in meetings with the Armenian Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew and Chief Rabbi, Rav Isak Heleva.

Patriarch Bartholomew is recognized by the Turkish Government as the spiritual leader of the Armenian minority in Turkey.  Rabbi Isak Heleva is the leader of the 25,000-member Jewish community in Istanbul and across the country.

“It was an honour to be able to meet with such important and influential spiritual leaders in the region,” said Dechert.

Since taking office, the Conservative Government has made it a priority to raise concerns of religious freedom around the world.

“Our meetings in Turkey allowed us to demonstrate our Government’s foreign policy emphasis on the protection and promotion of freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law around the world," said Dechert.

While in Turkey, Mr. Dechert also visited two Syrian refugee camps.  Since the violence in Syria began, Turkey’s shared border has been put under significant stress with thousands of Syrian refugees.

“As the violence in Syria continues, the Government of Turkey is doing a commendable job to help those who have been forced to flee their homes," said Dechert. “I'm glad that I was able to see firsthand the work that is being done in Turkey and I'm also proud that our Government has helped assist, through contributions to the Turkish Red Crescent, these meaningful and necessary projects.”
StarBuzz, Toronto