ARMENIAN PATRIARCH WRITES TO THE EU LEADERS

AB Haber, Belgium
EU-Turkey News Network
Dec 13 2006

His Beatitude Mesrob II, Armenian Patriarch of Istanbul and All Turkey,
wrote a letter, dated 12 December 2006, to the Queens and Kings,
Presidents and Prime Ministers, and the Foreign Ministers, wherever
applicable, of Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania,
Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden,
the Netherlands and the United Kingdom concerning his views on the
accession process of the Republic of Turkey to the European Union.

The content of the Patriarch’s letter is as follows:

"In view of the upcoming European Council, as the religious minority
leader of the Armenian Orthodox community, I wish to bring to your
kind attention some of my thoughts and concerns on Turkey’s accession
process.

The European Union is going to take a decision on 14 December which
will have crucial significance in terms of Turkey-EU relations.

Certainly, the impact of this decision will be felt in a much wider
context.

My primary concern, in this regard, is that the current impasse
seriously puts at risk Turkey’s accession process and Turkey-EU
relations at large. I think that this critical period should be
handled with a sense of utmost responsibility.

Turkey’s accession process is first and foremost important for the
Turkish people. The commitment of Turkey to be a member of the EU has
encouraged the political and economic reforms in our country. The
comprehensive reforms which were carried out in the last years are
also named as a silent revolution by outside observers. These have
tremendously improved the fundamental rights of all Turkish citizens,
including the religious minorities, and will certainly continue to
do so.

I also believe that Turkey’s accession process is significant for
the future of Europe. One of the major consequences of the accession
process will be a modern and economically prosperous Turkey which is
to the well-being of the EU and a wider geography.

It was the founder of the Republic of Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk,
of blessed memory, who, in the 1920’s, decidedly turned the face of
Turkey to Europe. Turkish people made their choice long ago to follow
the path of political and economic modernization. We are at a time
where we should highlight our shared values. That’s the only way to
realize that our diversities are nothing but a source of wealth for
all of us.

In this respect, it is so important that the EU should not
take decisions that would derail the negotiation process through
pressuring Turkey to fulfill unilateral conditions, while ignoring
other obligations.

Your Excellency, your leadership at this moment will be important in
preventing a negative decision to be taken by the European Council.

It is my sincere hope that your strategic vision will be instrumental
to put the process back on the right track.

Prayerfully, MESROB II, Armenian Patriarch of Istanbul & All Turkey"

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