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| UN Alliance of Civilizations High-level Group member John Esposito said on Thursday that Turkey could be a bridge between the Western world and the Islamic world. Esposito gave a conference within the scope of "Alliance of Civilizations Istanbul Conferences" on Thursday, and said that Turkey not only played a role in establishment of Alliance of Civilizations but also had other countries extend support to the initiative. Esposito noted that Alliance of Civilizations had an important role in development of relations between Islam and the West. Politicians assumed a stance against Islam to gain votes during election periods in Europe, Esposito said and added that Islamophobia was growing in Europe and the U.S.. He said that also discrimination was on rise and it was a double standard. Esposito said that today the most important thing was to create a global culture, and stressed that it could be achieved only with cooperation between Islam and the West. Esposito said that tolerance had a great importance on the basis of Alliance of Civilizations. Turkey could be a bridge between Islam and the West, Esposito said and added that U.S. President Barack Obama visited Turkey with this understanding and gave his message to the Islamic world from Turkey. Esposito also said that Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan received an award in Saudi Arabia which showed the role of Turkey in the region. |