[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 33 (Thursday, March 17, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E477]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




ON THE INTRODUCTION OF A RESOLUTION URGING TURKEY TO RESPECT THE RIGHTS 
           AND RELIGIOUS FREEDOMS OF THE ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ROBERT MENENDEZ

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 16, 2005

  Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, today I am proud to introduce a resolution 
urging Turkey to respect the human rights and religious freedoms of the 
Ecumenical Patriarch, which are being violated by the Turkish 
government.
  The Ecumenical Patriarch is the spiritual leader of 300 million 
Orthodox Christians around the world, including millions of Americans. 
The Turkish government continuously violates the Ecumenical Patriarch's 
religious rights and freedoms by refusing to recognize its 
international status. Training for the clergy has also been effectively 
banned because the Turkish government refuses to reopen the Greek 
Orthodox Halki seminary. Furthermore, the Turkish government requires 
all candidates for the Patriarchate be Turkish nationals, thus severely 
limiting the field. Additionally, the Turkish government has 
confiscated 75 percent of Ecumenical Patriarchal properties since 2002 
and has levied a 42 percent retroactive tax on the Balukli Hospital, a 
philanthropic institution run by the Ecumenical Patriarchate. 
Meanwhile, Turkey is scheduled to begin accession negotiations with the 
European Union in October 2005.
  Mr. Speaker, the legislation I am introducing today is very simple. 
This resolution calls on Turkey to meet the criteria on eliminating all 
forms of discrimination set forth by the European Union, particularly 
those based on race or religion. This bill urges the Turkish government 
to grant the Ecumenical Patriarch appropriate international recognition 
and ecclesiastic succession, the right to train clergy of all 
nationalities, and demands that Turkey respect the property rights and 
human rights of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. These are simple demands, 
Mr. Speaker. The path of democracy must be laid with the bricks of 
freedom and tolerance--without them, democracy becomes a hollow word 
devoid of promise and hope. We must take a stand for religious rights 
and freedoms. We must call on Turkey to fulfill its obligations to the 
European Union and stop violating the human and religious rights of the 
Ecumenical Patriarchate.

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