Turkish Interior Minister Suleiman Soylu visited the Turkish Armenian Patriarchate in Fatih and met with the leaders of the Armenian community. Minister Soylu stated that Turkey had become a place where people could express their opinion freely.
Istanbul Governor Ali Yerlikaya, Fatih Governor Gafer Sarıl, Mayor Mehmed Ergun Turan, and Turkish ruling party Istanbul deputy candidate Sevan Svajoglu accompanied Soylu. Armenian Patriarch Sahak greeted the minister at the door.
The Patriarch of Constantinople spoke about the Turkish state's policy towards minorities. Patriarch Sahak told Soilu: "These steps started 20 years ago. Your step shows your positive attitude towards us, which we need greatly because we are a minority."