The parliamentary delegation from Sweden, consisting of members from the committee cultural relations from various political parties, visited with His All Holiness at the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

During this meeting, the Swedish parliamentarians not only showed their respect to the Ecumenical Patriarch but also requested to be informed about the problems in which the Ecumenical Patriarchate faces in Turkey today.

Sweden will be taking over the European Union Presidency in the second half of 2009 and is very much interested in religious freedom and human rights.

The parliamentarians previously had contacts in Ankara and Smyrna with Parliamentary officials of Turkey.