[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 42 (Thursday, March 21, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E359]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  HOUSE RESOLUTION URGING TURKEY TO RESPECT THE RIGHTS AND RELIGIOUS 
                FREEDOMS OF THE ECUMENICAL PATRIARCHATE

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 21, 2013

  Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, Today, I am 
introducing, with my colleague Congressman Gus Bilirakis, legislation 
urging Turkey to respect the rights and religious freedoms of the 
Ecumenical Patriarchate.
  In 1993, the European Union defined the membership criteria for 
accession to the European Union at the Copenhagen European Council, 
obligating candidate countries to have achieved certain levels of 
reform, including stability of institutions guaranteeing democracy, the 
rule of law, and human rights, and respect for and protection of 
minorities. Since accession negotiations with the EU began in 2005, 
Turkey has failed to recognize the Ecumenical Patriarchate's 
international status as the spiritual home of the world's oldest and 
second largest Christian Church that includes more than 300 million 
Orthodox Christians worldwide.
  Moreover, the Government of Turkey has limited the candidates 
available to the Holy Synod of the Greek Orthodox Church for selection 
as the Ecumenical Patriarchate to Turkish nationals and reneged on its 
agreement to reopen the Theological School at Halki, thus impeding 
training for the Orthodox clergy in that country.
  This resolution calls on Turkey to respect the rights and religious 
freedoms of the Ecumenical Patriarchate by granting it the right to 
train clergy of all nationalities, not just Turkish nationals, and 
respecting the human rights and property rights of the Ecumenical 
Patriarchate. Additionally, the resolution encourages Turkey to 
continue the processes and programs to modernize and democratize its 
own society and prove that it is ready to meet the criteria set forth 
by the Copenhagen European Council prior to its accession into the EU.

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