[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 192 (Wednesday, December 14, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2261-E2262]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           URGING TURKEY TO SAFEGUARD ITS CHRISTIAN HERITAGE

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. GERALD E. CONNOLLY

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 13, 2011

  Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, the text of House Resolution 
306 could lead to false conclusions about Turkey. Make no mistake: 
Turkey has taken concrete steps to improve religious freedom through a 
series of meaningful initiatives. Moreover, Turkey is a secular, 
modernized NATO ally that provides indispensible military and 
diplomatic support to the United States and our allies. Its efforts 
with respect to religious inclusion are welcome and worthy of 
recognition.
  In September, for example, Secretary Clinton praised Turkey's 
continued progress in enhancing religious freedom, stating:

       We have also seen Turkey take serious steps to improve the 
     climate for religious tolerance. The Turkish government 
     issued a decree in August that invited non-Muslims to reclaim 
     churches and synagogues that were confiscated 75 years ago. I 
     applaud Prime Minister Erdogan's very important commitment to 
     doing so.

  Long before H. Res. 306 was introduced, the Turkish Government was 
enhancing religious freedom. For example:
  In May 2010, the Prime Ministry issued a circular underlining that 
Turkey's non-Muslim citizens share with all other Turkish citizens the 
right to enjoy and maintain their own identities and cultures in 
parallel with the national identity and culture of Turkey.
  The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate in Istanbul recently has been 
permitted to conduct masses at religiously significant venues that had 
been rendered museums due to disuse.
  In November 2010, Turkish authorities returned a former orphanage to 
the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate following a decision by the European 
Court of Human Rights (ECHR). The attorney representing the 
Patriarchate declared, ``This marks a first in Europe. Turkey became 
the first country to implement a decision of the ECHR by returning the 
property. This should be an example for other countries.''
  Since the original text of H. Res. 306 was introduced, Turkey amended 
its Law on Foundations to state that immovable properties, cemeteries, 
and fountains (of the non-Muslim community foundations registered in 
the name of Turkish public institutions) will be returned to the 
relevant non-Muslim community foundations, upon those non-Muslim 
foundations' request.
  On a larger scale, Turkey has been an indispensible ally and friend 
of the United States since it joined NATO almost 60 years ago (in 
1952). Given Turkey's strategic location and maintenance of the second 
largest military in NATO, this should come as no surprise. Currently, 
NATO is installing radar systems in Turkey and Romania as part of the 
regional anti-ballistic missile defense system. Moreover, when NATO 
passed Resolution 1973, which enforced a no-fly zone in Libya, Turkey 
helped lead a NATO-led coalition, after playing a major role in 
deliberations with the United States and other key allies. Turkey also 
had a key role in negotiating the release of four New York Times 
reporters who were captured during fighting in Libya.
  With regard to U.S. operations in Afghanistan, Turkey:
  Has made available its Konya Air Base and other airports for the 
deployment of aircraft and allies' cargo aircraft in support of ISAF 
operations.
  Has deployed five Operational Mentoring and Liaison Teams (OMLT) and 
has also conducted in-place training of 8,000 Afghan National Army 
(ANA) members and training in Turkey for an additional 1,000 Afghan 
troops.

[[Page E2262]]

  Turkey established two civilian-led Provincial Reconstruction Teams 
(PRTs) in Wardak and Jawzjan, and opened a branch of the Turkish 
International Cooperation Agency in Kabul, from which it runs a number 
of humanitarian assistance and economic development projects.
  Turkey stations over 1,700 U.S. military personnel under the U.S.-
Turkey Defense and Economic Cooperation Agreement. Incirlik Air Base, 
which houses about 1,500 U.S. military personnel, is a transit point 
for 68% of air logistical support for Iraq and Afghanistan. Each year, 
an average of 2,000 American C-17 aircraft and an average of 1,460 KC-
135 refueling tankers fly through the Turkish air base. Turkey's 
support is not limited to access of its air bases; its Mersin port on 
the Mediterranean is part of the U.S.'s supply network to Afghanistan.
  In a time when several Muslim majority countries are undergoing 
upheaval, Turkey provides an ideal model to its neighbors. It is a 
secular, modern, Muslim majority state that is a significant NATO ally. 
In its domestic affairs, Turkey is again a model for its neighbors. 
According to the State Department's 13th Annual Report on Religious 
Freedom,

       During the reporting period, the [Turkish] government took 
     steps to improve religious freedom. Notably the government 
     permitted religious services to be held annually in historic 
     Christian sites that had been turned into state museums after 
     decades of disuse.

  As a friend of Turkey, the United States ought to continue to 
recognize Turkey's initiatives on religious freedom and encourage 
Turkey to continue its progress. This is what allies do.

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