Saving Agia Sophia, Istanbul

The last time I visited Istanbul was two years ago. The city constitutes a huge histori-cal monument appreciated even by those unfamiliar with history. I was really wel-come and treated as if I were a celebrity. People were very friendly and hospitable a fact rather inconsistent with turbulent Greek-Turkish history.

Yet, one thing tarred my visit. That is the lot of Agia Sophia, probably the most his-torical Christian monument in the world. At a time when there is an urgent need for the inauguration of an inter-cultural and inter-civilisational dialogue, the lot of the church and the way it has been used, is an obstacle to the desired inter-religious un-derstanding.

Prime Minister T. Erdogan has a golden opportunity to send a deafening message to the world and those who light-heartedly talk about a clash of civilizations. The resto-ration of Agia Sophia is the best way for a Muslim country to show everyone that all the world needs is a better understanding, a way of accepting our differences.

That is the only way for peaceful coexistence and the best means to illustrate extrem-ists that what the Muslim world demands is respect. It will be an answer to those across the Christian world who have failed to treat Muslims with decency and at-tempted to export our western values by means of violence.

Dr. George Voskopoulos

G.Voskopoulos,BA,Brock University(Can)/BA,Ionian University(Gr)/MA,International Relations & Strategic Studies,Lancaster Univer-sity,UK/Ph.D,Exeter University,UK,Centre for European Studies,f.Associate Researcher, Luxembourg Institute for European & International Studies,f.Visiting Fac-ulty,Russe University, Bulgaria, currently Assistant Professor, University of Macedonia,Thessaloniki,Greece.He teaches undergraduate and post-graduate courses on European integration theories, European history, the Politics & Government of the EU,Greek foreign policy, CFSP of the EU.Recent publications: G.Voskopoulos & I.Kouskouvelis(eds),The EU, the US & Russia as a Security Triangle:action, interaction and challenges ahead,Eurasian pubs,Athens,2010(in english)/The EU:institutions, poli-cies,challenges,dilemmas,Epikentro,Thessaloniki,2009/The Construction of Europe,Poiotita,Athens,2008/ Transatlantic Relations & European Integration,realities & dilemmas,ICFAI UP, Hyderabad,2006/J.Mitchell & G.Voskopoulos(eds),American Politics & Government,v.2,Whittier,NY,2005/Nationalism & Human Rights in South-Eastern Europe: Territorial & Cultural Factors",The South Slav Journal, London,vol.29,N.1-2,Spring 2010/Greek-Bulgarian Relations in the Post-Cold War Era:Contributing to Stability & Development in South-eastern Europe, Mediterranean Quarterly,Spring 2008, Duke University,USA/"Defining Factors in EU-Russian Relations",Proceedings, vol.47,Book 6,Rousse University, Bulgaria,2008/"Russia,the US & the emergence of a multipolar international system",Proceedings,vol.47,Book 6, Rousse University,Department of European Studies,Bulgaria,2008/Greek foreign policy,from the 20th to the 21st century,Papazisis,Athens,
2005/"The geographical & systemic influences on Greek foreign policy in the Balkans in the ´90s,Perspec-tives,n.26,2006/"Post-Cold War Common Foreign & Security Policy of the EU",Evropa,Warsaw,TOM 4,2004 (in Russian)/"Political Socialization as a Means of Consolidating Pluralism & Democracy in South East Europe" in S. Markovich,E.B.Weaver,V.Pavlovic(eds.),Challenges to the New Democracies in the Balkans, Belgrade:Cigoja Press & Anglo-Yugoslav Society,200)/"U.S.,Terrorism,International Security & Leadership:Toward a U.S.-EU-Russia Security Partnership", Demokratizatsiya, Washington D.C.,v.11,n.2,2003/"Europe,North America & International Security:the need for a revised balanced relationship",Transition Studies Review,n.34,2003/"Western Europe & the Balkans:A Geo-Cultural approach of international relations", Perspectives, n.17,2002/"European integration through Gaullism & Europeanism", Studia Eu-ropaea,2006.
For a full list of publications see http://www.uom.gr/modules.php?op=modload&name=Publications&file=index&id=1211&tmima=4&categorymenu=2

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