Head of the Directorate of Religious Affairs of Turkey: "I do not think Pope's visit will solve all problems"

"I wish these steps to be continuous when the world needs peace not war.
The Pope's speech in Germany wasn't a critique. It turned against fundamentally sacred elements of Islam in a condemning manner. In this sense, it was flawed. It shouldn' have been that way, as the pope himself later came to understand. Whenever we hear such accuses we show our reaction and say that they are wrong. But at the same time, whenever the person we criticize visits us we will be hospitable. Because, Turkish are hospitable nation. Highly estimating this visit, I do not think that it will solve all problems."

Ali Bardakoglu considers normal that Turkey expressed the strictest reaction both to caricature crisis and Pope's speech.

"We're always open to criticism. The aim of Turkey is to be hospitable, in spite of not accepting the guests' thoughts, to treat him politely," he said.

He also highly estimated Pope Iohann Pavel's peaceful messages during his visit to Azerbaijan, APA reports.

"If only we could realize what we say. Koran says Why do you say what you can not realize. I give my regards to my friends in Azerbaijan," he said.