2013 Berlin

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Speakers

Mustafa Akyol

Author

Şahin Alpay, Ph.D.

Senior Lecturer, Bahcesehir University

William J. Antholis

Managing Director, Brookings Institution

Paris Asanakis

Attorney

His Eminence Metropolitan Augoustinos of Germany

Metropolitan of Germany

Doug Bandow

Senior Fellow, Cato Institute

Fatma Benli

Attorney

Dogan Bermek

President, AVF Federation of Alevi Foundations

The Hon. Judge B. Theodore Bozonelis

Conference Planning Co-Chairman

Dr. Osman Can

Constitutional Scholar

Orhan Kemal Cengiz

Attorney

The Honorable Hillary Rodham Clinton (Via Video)

Former Secretary of State, U.S. Senator and First Lady

His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America

Archbishop of America

W. Cole Durham, Jr.

Susa Young Gates University Professor of Law

Dr. Steven Ealy

Senior Fellow, Liberty Fund

His Eminence Metropolitan Elpidophoros of Bursa

Metropolitan of Bursa

His Eminence Metropolitan Emmanuel of France

Director, The Liaison Office of the Orthodox Church to the European Union

Dr. Akyan Erdemir

Member of the Turkish Parliament

Willy Fautré

Chairman, Human Rights Without Frontiers International

Andrew Finkel

Journalist

Özge Genç

Program Director, TESEV Foundation

Özgür Sevgi Göral

Founder, Center for Truth, Justice and Memory

Dr. Ayhan Kaya

Director of European Institute, Bilgi University

Dr. Levent Koker

Professor of Public Law, Atilim University Law School

Rober Koptaş

Editor-In-Chief of Agos

Ioannis Ktistakis

Assistant professor of International Law, Bogazici University and Democritus University

Dilek Kurban, MA, JD

Stiftung Mercator-IPC Fellow

Anthony J. Limberakis, M.D.

National Commander of the Order of Saint Andrew the Apostle, Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate

Andrew E. Manatos

Washington Regional Commander, Order of St. Andrew

Rinaldo Marmara

Historian

Johny Messo

President, World Council of Arameans (Syriacs)

Muna Ndulo

Professor of Law, Cornell Law School

Emre Öktem

Associate Professor of International Law

Ilber Ortayli

Professor of History, Galatasarary University and Bilkent University

Pastor Ihsan Ozbek

Ankara Kurtulus Church and Association of Protestant Churches

Ergun Ozbudun, Ph.D.

Professor of Constitutional Law, Bilkent University

Mehmet Paçacı, Ph.D.

Director General of the International Affairs for the Presidency of Religious Affairs, Republic of Turkey

Dr. Elizabeth Prodromou

Harvard University, Center for European Studies

George C. Rockas, Esq.

Conference Planning Chairman

Dr. Nikolaus Schneider

Chairman, Council of the Evangelical Church of Germany

Jay Alan Sekulow

Chief Counsel of the American Center for Law and Justice, Washington, D.C.

Jordan Sekulow

Executive Director, American Center of Law and Justice

Dr. Murat Somer

Associate Professor of International Relations, Koc University

Christopher Stratakis, Esq.

Legal Counselor, Order St. Andrew

Dr. Tuğba Tanyeri-Erdemir

Deputy Director, Center for Science and Society

Riza Turmen

Former Judge, European Court of Human Rights

P. Lakis Vingas

Council Member, General Directorate of Foundations

Mine Yildirim

Humanitarian and Religious Freedom Advocate

John Zavitsanos, Esq.

Conference Planning Co-Chairman

Speeches & Addresses

Fatma Benli: Saygıdeğer misafirler
Öncelikle bu derece önemli bir konuda tecrübelerini bizimle paylaşmak için burada olduğunuz için teşekkür ederim
Laki Vingas: "The State of Religious Equality – The View of Minority Communities"
For more than 150 years, minorities living, first in the Ottoman Empire and later in the Republic of Turkey, have occupied national and international agendas.
Dogan Bermek: "The Alevi Belief System and its Rituals"
During its northwards expansion from the Arabian Peninsula in the 8th and 9th centuries, Islam encountered the native populations of Khorasan and Transoxania, as well as the Turkic peoples, who were already on their seven-century journey from Central Asia to the West.
Willy Fautré: "EU Guidelines on Freedom of Religion or Belief, An opportunity for religious minorities in Turkey"
For many years, freedom of religion or belief was a non-issue on the agenda of the European Union. Things only started to change a few years ago.
Anthony J. Limberakis, M.D.: "Closing Conference Address"
It is with a real sense of accomplishment and gratefulness that I present my closing remarks to these two past remarkable days. Many thanks are due to many individuals, but I will reserve that expression of gratitude for our fellowship later this evening. For the moment, please allow me some reflection and observation.
Rinaldo Marmara: “The State of Religious Equality – The View of Minority Communities”
Actuellement, trois circonscriptions partagent la carte ecclésiastique de Turquie pour les catholiques latins : Archidiocèse d'Izmir, Vicariat apostolique d'Istanbul et Vicariat apostolique d'Anatolie.
Yannis Ktistakis: "The Exemption from General Measures"
From 1989 onwards, after tearing down the Berlin wall, a significant change took place in Europe with regard to the appearance of the minority issue. The new environment coercively induced Europeans to create an adequate scope of protection for minorities, but also to develop the policy of intercultural and interfaith dialogue.
Prof. Dr. Ayhan Kaya: "Laicism, Secularism, Religion and the Myth of Tolerance in Turkey"
Although Turkey is a secular state, the constitution of which guarantees the freedom of conscience and religion, it does not really have a comprehensive and consistent policy on the freedom of faith.
Metropolitan Elpidophoros: "Halki Theological School: The Future"
It is a great honor and joy for me to have this opportunity to participate in a conference of such a high level, and I would like to express my sincere thanks to the organizers.
Muna B. Ndulo: "Legal and Humanitarian Perspectives on Equality, State Neutrality and Pluralism: Freedom of Religion in the South African Context"
A major issue concerning religious freedom in international human rights is the extent to which human rights instruments will protect religious freedom especially the right to manifest or display religion or beliefs.
Özgür Sevgi Göral: "In Praise of Turkishness"
The word 'Turk' appears 54 times in Turkey's 17-times-revised current Constitution. In the Constitution's Preamble, the same word is used 10 times.
Fatma Benli
Zamanımız sadece on dakika ile sınırlı olduğu için daha hızlı olmak adına konuşmamı Türkçe yapacağım Umuyorum ki vaktinde tamamlayabilirim
Metropolitan Emmanuel of France
Can we imagine a world where people of minority religions can live in peace and security? Freedom of religion is the fundamental right of every living person.
Anthony J. Limberakis, M.D.: "Welcoming Remarks"
I trust that all of you feel the tremendous urgency that I do at this critical time. Turkey's key role in the region and throughout the Islamic world is at a real crossroads.
Dr. h.c. Nikolaus Schneider
It is a joy and honor for me to extend the warmest of greetings to you both personally and on behalf of the Evangelical Church in Germany Council.
Metropolitan Augoustinos of Germany (English)
Allow me as Metropolitan of Germany and as Chairman of the Orthodox Bishops’ Conference in Germany (OBKD), which offers a spiritual home for well over a million Orthodox Christians in this country, to welcome you to Berlin. I am very glad that you have again managed, honorable Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, to organize such an important conference, this time here in a capital of Europe. I am confident that you will succeed in providing us with ample food for thought.
Dr. William J. Antholis: "Religious Tolerance and Pluralism in a Global Context"
Perhaps Brookings greatest accomplishment in its 97 years has been to help design the Marshall Plan in 1947. Not only did that contribute to reviving post-War Europe, but it also followed through on President Truman's commitment to aid Greece and Turkey earlier that year. A Europe whole and free – including Greece and Turkey – remains a major priority for Brookings.

News

International Conference calls on Turkey to address Religious Freedom and Human Rights Issues
The Order of St. Andrew the Apostle, Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, in cooperation with the Patriarchal Liaison Office to the European Union and the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Germany, hosted its 2nd Archon International Conference on Religious Freedom December 4-5, 2013 at the historic Adlon Hotel in Berlin, Germany. Taking place in the shadow of the Brandenburg Gate, the theme of the Conference was, "Tearing Down Walls: Achieving Religious Equality in Turkey."
The Order of St. Andrew the Apostle to Host Historic International Conference In Berlin, Germany On Religious Freedom in Turkey
The Order of St. Andrew the Apostle, Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, in cooperation with the Patriarchal Liaison Office to the European Union and the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Germany will hold the 2nd Archon International Conference on Religious Freedom December 4-5, 2013 at the historic Adlon Hotel in Berlin, Germany. Taking place in the shadow of the Brandenburg Gate, the theme of the Conference is “Tearing Down Walls: Achieving Religious Equality in Turkey”.
DEADLINE approaching for 2nd Archon International Conference on Religious Freedom in Berlin
We are quickly approaching the reservations deadline for the Second Archon International Conference on Religious Freedom in Berlin, Germany, December 2–7, 2013. In order to secure a seat with the lower group air fare on Air Berlin, a reservation is required by Thursday, October 17.
Become a part of The Archon's 2nd International Conference on Religious Freedom, Dec. 4-5
With the blessings of His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America, the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate invite you to attend and witness the Archon’s Second International Conference on Religious Freedom: "Tearing Down Walls: Achieving Religious Equality in Turkey." It will take place in Berlin, Germany, December 4 and 5, 2013.
The 2nd Archon International Conference on Religious Freedom to be held in Berlin, Dec 4-5, 2013
This year, the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate invite you to participate in their Second International Religious Freedom Conference: "Tearing Down Walls: Achieving Religious Equality in Turkey" – which will take place in Berlin, Germany, December 4 and 5, 2013.

Photos

Video

2nd Archon International Conference on Religious Freedom12/11/2013

George Rockas (2nd Archon International Conference on Religious Freedom)

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2nd Archon International Conference on Religious Freedom12/11/2013

Anthony J. Limberakis, M.D. (2nd Archon International Conference on Religious Freedom)

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2nd Archon International Conference on Religious Freedom12/11/2013

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew (2nd Archon International Conference on Religious Freedom)

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2nd Archon International Conference on Religious Freedom12/4/2013

Hillary Rodham Clinton (2nd Archon International Conference on Religious Freedom)

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2nd Archon International Conference on Religious Freedom12/11/2013

Archbishop Demetrios (2nd Archon International Conference on Religious Freedom)

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2nd Archon International Conference on Religious Freedom12/11/2013

Metropolitan Emmanuel (2nd Archon International Conference on Religious Freedom)

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2nd Archon International Conference on Religious Freedom12/11/2013

Andrew Manatos (2nd Archon International Conference on Religious Freedom)

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2nd Archon International Conference on Religious Freedom12/11/2013

Ayhan Kaya (2nd Archon International Conference on Religious Freedom)

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2nd Archon International Conference on Religious Freedom12/12/2013

William Antholis (2nd Archon International Conference on Religious Freedom)

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2nd Archon International Conference on Religious Freedom12/12/2013

Mine Yildirim (2nd Archon International Conference on Religious Freedom)

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2nd Archon International Conference on Religious Freedom12/12/2013

Panel Discussion: Legal and Humanitarian Perspectives on Equality, State Neutrality & Pluralism

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2nd Archon International Conference on Religious Freedom12/16/2013

Ergun Ozbudun (2nd Archon International Conference on Religious Freedom)

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2nd Archon International Conference on Religious Freedom12/17/2013

İlber Ortaylı (2nd Archon International Conference on Religious Freedom)

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2nd Archon International Conference on Religious Freedom12/17/2013

Mustafa Akyol (2nd Archon International Conference on Religious Freedom)

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2nd Archon International Conference on Religious Freedom12/17/2013

Jay Sekulow (2nd Archon International Conference on Religious Freedom)

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2nd Archon International Conference on Religious Freedom12/17/2013

Dr. Levent Koker (2nd Archon International Conference on Religious Freedom)

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2nd Archon International Conference on Religious Freedom12/17/2013

Dogan Bermek (2nd Archon International Conference on Religious Freedom)

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2nd Archon International Conference on Religious Freedom12/17/2013

Rober Koptas (2nd Archon International Conference on Religious Freedom)

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2nd Archon International Conference on Religious Freedom12/17/2013

Sahin Alpay (2nd Archon International Conference on Religious Freedom)

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2nd Archon International Conference on Religious Freedom12/17/2013

Anthony J. Limberakis. M.D. (2nd Archon International Conference on Religious Freedom)

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2nd Archon International Conference on Religious Freedom12/19/2013

Metropolitan Elpidophoros (2nd Archon International Conference on Religious Freedom)

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2nd Archon International Conference on Religious Freedom01/10/2014

Panel Discussion: Why Does Religious Freedom Matter

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Schedule

Tearing Down Walls: Achieving Religious Equality in Turkey

International Archon Religious Freedom Conference
Berlin, Germany - Hotel Adlon, Kempinski
December 3, 4 and 5, 2013

 

December 3, 2013 – Day One

 

6:00 P.M.

7:00 P.M.

Opening Reception – Hotel Adlon

Willkommen Dinner – Hotel Adlon

 

December 4, 2013 – Day Two

Tearing Down the Walls

 

8:00 – 8:10 A.M.

Conference Introduction

George C. Rockas, Conference Planning Chairman

Hon. B. Theodore Bozonelis, Conference Planning Co–Chairman

John Zavitsanos, Conference Planning Co–Chairman

Christopher Stratakis, Esq., Legal Counselor, Order of St. Andrew

8:10 – 8:20 A.M.

Welcome

Anthony J. Limberakis, M.D.
National Commander, Order of St. Andrew the Apostle
Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate

8:20 – 8:30 A.M.

Greetings and Welcome

His Eminence Metropolitan Augoustinos of Germany

8:30 – 8:40 A.M.

Greetings and Welcome

Dr. H.C. Nikolaus Schneider
Chairman of the Council of Evangelical Church of Germany

8:40 – 8:50 A.M.

Patriarchal Exhortation

His Eminence Metropolitan Emmanuel of France
Director, The Liaison Office of the Orthodox Church to the European Union

8:50 – 9:05 A.M.

Opening Remarks

His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America
Primate, Greek Orthodox Church in America
Exarch of the Ecumenical Patriarchate

9:05 – 9:15 A.M.

Tearing Down the Walls of Religious Intolerance

Introduction by Andrew E. Manatos
Washington Regional Commander, Order of St. Andrew
Coordinator of Washington Religious Freedom Initiatives

Hon. Hillary Rodham Clinton
Former United States Secretary of State, United States Senator from New York and First Lady of the United States (Video Address)

9:15 – 9:30 A.M.

The View from the Presidency of Religious Affairs ("Diaynet")
Mehmet Paçacı, Ph.D.

Director General of the International Affairs for the Presidency of Religious Affairs, Republic of Turkey

9:30 – 10:00 A.M.

Religious Tolerance and Pluralism – A Global Perspective

William Antholis, Managing Director,
Senior Fellow, Governance Studies,
Brookings Institution, Washington, D.C.

10:00 – 10:30 A.M.

Religious Inequality in Turkey – An Overview

Prof. Ayhan Kaya
Director of the European Institute, Bilgi University, Istanbul, Turkey

10:30 – 10:45 A.M.

Morning Break

10:45 – 11:15 A.M.

State Neutrality and Pluralism – Important Components of Religious Freedom

Mine Yildirim
Humanitarian and Religious Freedom Advocate
Director, Freedom of Belief Initiative Project in Turkey, Norwegian Helsinki Commission, Doctoral Candidate, Aabo Akademi, Institute of Human Rights, Istanbul, Turkey

11:15 A.M. –

12:15 P.M.

Panel Discussion on the Status of Equality, Pluralism and State Neutrality in Turkey

Moderator:

Dr. Steven Ealy
Senior Fellow, Liberty Fund, Indianapolis, Indiana

Panelists:

Fatma Benli
Lawyer and Human Rights Activist,
Turkey's Representative to the International Jurists Union

Doctor Aykan Erdemir
Member of the Turkish Parliament representing Bursa, Member of Turkey – EU – Joint Parliamentary Committee

Doctor Tugba Tanyeri – Erdemir
Deputy Director of the Center for Science and Society,
Member of American Research Institute, Ankara, Turkey

Doctor Murat Somer
Associate Professor of International Relations
Koc University, Istanbul, Turkey

12:15 – 2:30 P.M.

Lunch Break
Restaurant Kafer in the Bundestag

Presentation:  Legal and Political Obstacles to Achieving Equality, Neutrality and Pluralism

Orhan Kemal Cengiz, Lawyer, Human Rights Defender and Newspaper Columnist, İzmir, Turkey

2:30 – 3:45 P.M.

The State of Religious Equality – The View of Minority Communities

Moderator:

Emre Oktem, Associate Professor of International Law and Head of the International Law Department at the Faculty of Law, Galatasary University, Istanbul, Turkey

Panelists:

Paris Asanakis, Representative of Orthodox Community,
Lawyer, Athens, Greece

Dogan Bermek, Representative of Alevi Muslim Community, President, AVF Federation of Alevi Foundations,
Istanbul, Turkey

Rober Koptas, Representative of Armenian Community,
Editor-In-Chief of Agos, an Armenian newspaper, Istanbul, Turkey

Rinaldo Marmara, Representative of Catholic Community, Director, Caritas, Turkey

Johny Messo, Representative of Syriac Community, President of World Council of Arameans (Syriacs)

Pastor Ihsan Ozbek, Representative of Protestant Community,
Ankara Kurtulus Church and Association of Protestant Churches

Lakis Vingas, Representative of the Greek Orthodox Community Council Member, General Directorate of Foundations Representative of the Non Muslim Foundations

3:45 – 4:30 P.M.

Why Does Religious Freedom Matter – The Relationship Between That Freedom and Other Civil, Political and Economic Liberties

Moderator:

Dilek Kurban, MA, JD, Stiftung Mercator-IPC Fellow, German Institute for International and Security Affairs, Berlin, Germany and Former Director of the Democratization Program, Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation, Istanbul, Turkey

Panelists

Willy Fautre, Chairman, Human Rights Without Frontiers International, Brussels, Belgium

Andrew Finkel
Writer and Broadcaster and Founding Member of P24 Association for Independent Journalism in Turkey

Jordan Sekulow, Executive Director, American Center of Law and Justice, Washington, D.C.

4:30 – 5:30 P.M.

Tearing Down Walls – Legal and Humanitarian Perspectives on Equality, State Neutrality and Pluralism

Moderator:

Dr. Elizabeth H. Prodromou, Harvard University, Center for European Studies, Former Vice Chair, U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom

Panelists:

Doug Bandow, Senior Fellow, Cato Institute, Washington, D.C.

Cole Durham, Susan Young Gates, Professor of Law, Director, International Center for Law and Religious Studies, J. Reuben Clark Law School, Brigham Young University
Provo, Utah

Yannis Ktisakis, Assistant Professor of Human Rights Law, Bogazici University, Istanbul, Turkey and Democritus University, Thrace, Greece and Legal Advisor to the Ecumenical Patriarchate

Muna B. Ndulo, Professor of Law, Cornell Law School, Director of Cornell's Institute for African Development, Human Rights Advocate and Humanitarian
Ithaca, New York

7:00 – 8:30 P.M.

Reception – United States Embassy

December 5, 2013 – Day Three

The New Constitution

 

9:00 – 9:30 A.M.

Building a New Pluralism in Turkey Based on Lessons Learned From the Ottoman Empire

Professor İlber Ortaylı, Professor of History, Galatasarary University, Istanbul and Bilkent University, Ankara

9:30 – 10:00 A.M.

The Status of Religious Freedom Under The Current Constitution

Dr. Ergun Ozbudun
Professor of Constitutional Law, Bilkent University, Ankara
Turkey and Turkish Representative to the Venice Commission, Council of Europe

10:00 – 11:45 A.M.

Equality, Pluralism and State Neutrality Under The Current Constitution – Needed Areas of Change

- the judiciary
- education
- property rights
- places of worship
- legal personality
- religious training and
- funding

Moderator:

Sahin Alpay, Ph.D., Senior Lecturer, Bahcesehir University, Columnist Zaman and Today's Zaman, Istanbul, Turkey

Panelists:

Dr. Osman Can, Constitutional Scholar and Reporting Judge at the Turkish Constitutional Court, Member of Central Committee of AK Party, Selected as Jurist of the Year 2010 in Turkey

Ozge Genc
Director, Democratization Program
Tesev, Istanbul, Turkey

Ozgur Sevigi Goral
Advisor of the Peace and Democracy Party for the Parliamentary Constitution Commission, Istanbul, Turkey

Riza Turmen
Former Judge, European Court of Human Rights, Member of Turkish Parliament and Member of the Constitution Committee, Izmir, Turkey

10:45 – 11:00 A.M.

Mid Morning Break

11:45 A.M. –
12:30 P.M.

The Status of the Proposed New Constitution

Dr. Levent Koker
Professor of Public Law
Atilim University Law School
Ankara, Turkey

12:30 – 2:00 P.M.

Lunch

2:00 – 2:30 P.M.

Halki – The Berlin Wall of Religious Freedom

His Eminence Metropolitan Elpidophoros of Bursa
Abbot of the Holy Patriarchal and Stavropegial Monastery of the Holy Trinity on the Island of Halki and former Chief Secretary of Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate

2:30 – 3:15 P.M.

Obstacles to Effecting Meaningful Change

Mustafa Akyol
Author, Journalist and Political Commentator, Istanbul, Turkey

3:15 – 3:30 P.M.

Break

3:30 – 4:15 P.M.

Removing Obstacles Through the European Court of Human Rights and Other Institutions

Jay Sekulow, Chief Counsel of the American Center for Law and Justice, Washington, D.C. and to European Center for Law and Justice, Strasbourg, France

4:15 – 4:45 P.M.

What Achieving Equality, Neutrality and Pluralism Means for Turkey

Introduction by George C. Rockas, Esq., Conference Planning Chairman

4:45 – 5:00 P.M.

Living by Hope alone
Sustained by Hope
Empowered by Hope
Building Bridges From Walls Torn Down

Anthony J. Limberakis, M.D., National Commander, Order of St. Andrew the Apostle, Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate

7:00 – 7:30 P.M.

Farewell Reception

7:30 – 9:30 P.M.

Auf Wiedersehen Dinner