The leader of the Crimean Tatars, MP Mustafa Dzhemilev will be present at the handing over of the Tomos to the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, Metropolitan Epifaniy, in Istanbul. As Dzhemilev shared, he had already met with the Ecumenical Patriarch and had a conversation with him.
The leader of the Crimean Tatars, MP Mustafa Dzhemilev will be present at the handing over of the Tomos to the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, Metropolitan Epifaniy, in Istanbul. As Dzhemilev shared, he had already met with the Ecumenical Patriarch and had a conversation with him.
The MP said this in an interview with Ukrinform.
“When we [the delegation led by President Poroshenko during the visit to the Ecumenical Patriarchate on November 3, ed.] said goodbye, I told him [Ecumenical Patriarch, ed.] I was not a Christian but a Muslim, but his wise and courageous act of granting Iindependence to the Ukrainian Church will be beneficial to all Ukrainian citizens, regardless of nationality and religion. May Allah give you many years of life, I told him. He was moved and replied, “May Allah give you many years of life, may Allah arrange so that you soon return to your homeland,” said Dzhemiliev.
He also said that he is going to be present at the presentation of the Tomos in January to show that this event is very important for the Crimean Tatars.
“I think that this [granting autocephaly - ed.] is the most powerful blow at Russia at this stage. Another blow of an equal force will be the de-occupation of the Crimea,” said Dzhemilev.
On November 3, the meeting between the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko, who was on an official visit to Turkey, and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, took place in Istanbul. The parties signed an agreement on cooperation and coordination between Ukraine and the Ecumenical Patriarchate.