The Order of Saint Andrew has embarked on another component of its multi-faceted initiative in support of religious freedom for the Ecumenical Patriarchate. This component focuses on bringing the issues faced by the Ecumenical Patriarchate to the forum of the Group of Twenty, also known as the “G20.”

The G20 was established in 1999 and is comprised of the world’s major economies, nineteen (19) countries, including Turkey, plus the European Union. Its purpose is to bring together systemically important industrialized and developing economies to discuss key issues in the global economy.

This year’s annual Summit of the G20 will be held in June in Toronto, Canada. As host, the Canadian Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, will have an opportunity to call upon Turkey and its Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, to take immediate steps to protect religious minorities in Turkey, as required by the Treaty of Lausanne and by Turkey’s other international commitments, and to end its discriminatory practices against the Ecumenical Patriarchate, whose very existence is imperiled by the persecutory policies of the government of Turkey.

The G20 Summit presents an opportunity to engage all participating governments and encourage them to champion religious freedom in support of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

We urge you to support this aspect of the religious freedom initiative and join us in this important campaign. You may do so by visiting a special web site established to provide additional background and information on this campaign and by signing the petition under the “Patriarchate Action” tab on this web site. Please visit: www.g20humanrights.com/patriarchate_action.

Anthony J. Limberakis, MD

Archon Aktouarios

National Commander

June 2, 2010