Patriach calls for release of soldiers in Easter Message

The Ecumenical Partriach Bartholomew used his Easter Sunday message to draw attention on the plight the two Greek soldiers held without charges in a Turkish prison.

During his Easter message that Patriarch announced that after persistent efforts with the Turkish authorities that Metropolitan of Adrianople, Amphilochios was granted permission to visit on Sunday the two Greek soldiers.

Patriarch Bartholomew wished the two Greek military to "return soon to their families and their duties."

Meanwhile Greece’s Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias called on Turkey to realise that the friendly climate and the diplomatic response, even to military challenges, should not be seen as a weakness. On the contrary, it is a behaviour of responsibility and strength.

"We are a different player in the international system. Greece will defend its rights in a different way," said Kotzias on Sunday in an interview with Der Spiegel magazine and added that Greece will never proceed to negotiations with Turkey on its terms.