Assistant Secretary Philip Gordon Visits Istanbul

July 30, 2012

Assistant Secretary Philip Gordon and Metropolitan of Bursa Elpidophoros Lambriniadis.

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Philip H. Gordon has visited Istanbul to discuss bilateral relations and global issues.

Assistant Secretary Gordon has first met with the Hagia Triada Monastery’s archpriest and Metropolitan of Bursa Elpidophoros Lambriniadis, and toured the historical Halki Greek Orthodox Seminary on Istanbul’s Heybeliada Island.

Assistant Secretary Gordon has later attended an iftar (fast-breaking dinner), hosted by the Mayor of Üsküdar Mustafa Kara at İskele Meydanı in Üsküdar, Istanbul. U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Francis J. Ricciardone and U.S. Consul General to Istanbul Scott F. Kilner joined him at the İftar event.

Ramazan, which began on July 20 and runs through August 18, is a season of festivity. During this time, most Turks participate in ritual fasting during the day and ebullient iftars in the evening. In Istanbul, most of the city’s 39 municipalities host some form of public iftar and entertainment nearly every night. Public festivities which run late into the night are designed to bring neighbors and families together.