[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 192 (Wednesday, December 14, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2254]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           URGING TURKEY TO SAFEGUARD ITS CHRISTIAN HERITAGE

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. GREGORY W. MEEKS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 13, 2011

  Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak on H. Res. 306, urging 
the Republic of Turkey to safeguard its Christian heritage and to 
return confiscated church properties.
  I believe that it is important for Secretary Clinton to discuss 
issues of religious freedom and equality with her Turkish counterparts, 
but I regret that Congress often fails to acknowledge the rapidly 
developing situation in Turkey, where the relationship between religion 
and state is evolving in positive and dynamic ways.
  As a devout Christian and American, I believe that all religions 
should be treated equally, with dignity and respect, both here in the 
United States and abroad, and as such, I wish the resolution before us 
today would have offered a more balanced perspective, acknowledging the 
positive steps taken by the Turkish government.
  Turkey is home to many faiths, and I believe that Turks take 
questions and concerns about religious freedom and equality very 
seriously. Turks are no strangers to religious restrictions, 
discrimination and prejudice, which confront many of their communities 
abroad.
  I would like to commend the government of Turkey for its recent 
reform of The Law on Foundations, which enables the return of or 
compensation for immovable properties significant to religious minority 
communities. Congress should also acknowledge that Turkey has preserved 
or restored many sites of importance to religious minorities in recent 
years, and we should encourage the continuation of this important work.
  I applaud the Turkish government for easing restrictions on the Greek 
Orthodox community and the Ecumenical Patriarch, initiatives that have 
been welcomed by the Hellenic communities in Turkey and the United 
States and improved relations between Turkey and Greece.
  In another example of forward movement that Congress has yet to 
recognize, the Armenian Orthodox Patriarch led worship services in the 
historic Armenian church on Akhtamar Island near Van for the first time 
since World War I, attended by thousands of pilgrims from Turkey and 
abroad.
  Congress should welcome Prime Minister Erdogan's commitment to return 
property to religious minority communities and recognize Turkey's 
status as a majority Muslim, democratic, secular state where all 
religions are equal.
  The latest International Religious Freedom Report published by the 
State Department lists areas where the Turkish government has made 
significant advances, while calling for improvements in areas such as 
the reopening of the Halki Seminary on the island of Heybeli.
  Further improvement is always possible, and as Turkey moves forward 
with constitutional reform efforts, I am confident that this process 
will recognize religious freedom, equality and plurality as universal 
values that should be upheld in every corner of the world.

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