On September 23, 2011 Archbishop Demetrios of America met with Prime Minister of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to discuss matters regarding religious freedom and the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Included in the discussion was an expression of appreciation offered by the Archbishop to the Prime Minister for recent positive initiatives of the government of Turkey regarding the religious freedom and institutional human rights of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, as well as the pressing need to reopen Halki Seminary which was forcibly closed 40 years ago.

Accompanying the Archbishop were Archon Spiritual Advisor Fr. Alexander Karloutsos; Archons Michael Jaharis, Vice Chair of the Archdiocesan Council; Anthony J. Limberakis, MD, National Commander, Order of Saint Andrew; John A. Catsimatidis, Order of St. Andrew Religious Freedom Chairman and Archon Dennis Mehiel, member of the Religious Freedom Committee.