ORTHODOX PATRIARCH BLESSES TURKISH EU ENTRY
Teresa Kuchler
EUobserver.com
24.09.2008 @ 17:41 CET
Belgium
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS – Despite ongoing disputes over Christian and
other religious minorities in Turkey, the world’s leading Orthodox
prelate, the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople,
has endorsed Turkey’s bid to join the European Union and appealed to
Brussels not to make religious or cultural differences an obstacle
to membership.
"Europe needs to bring Turkey into its project," Ecumenical
Patriarch Bartholomew I told the European Parliament. (Photo:
European Parliament) Print Comment article "We must not exclude from
the European family somebody who simply has a different belief from
us," the Istanbul-based cleric told MEP’s in the European parliament
on Wednesday (24 September).
"Europe should not see any religion that is tolerant of others as
alien to itself. The great religions, like the European project, can
be a force that transcends nationalism and can even transcend nihilism
and fundamentalism by focusing their faithful on what unites us as
human beings, and by fostering a dialogue about what divides us,"
the white-bearded clergyman told MEPs.
"What I and the majority of the people of Turkey wish is full
integration, full membership of the European Union, on condition that
the criteria and preconditions that apply to all candidates are abided
by," he later told journalists in Brussels.
Bartholomew I said, however, that Ankara needs to improve protection
for religious minorities as part of wider human rights reforms.
He called in particular for Turkish authorities to allow the reopening
of a Greek Orthodox seminary and return church property, describing
a dispute at the heart of legal action currently before the European
Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.
Turkey’s population of almost 75 million includes 65,000 Armenian
Orthodox Christians, 23,000 Jews and approximately 2,500 Greek
Orthodox Christians.
Ankara launched EU membership talks in October 2005 and has since
opened six out of 35 negotiating chapters. Eight areas are blocked
from further progress by member states due to Ankara’s failure to
meet its trading commitments to EU member Cyprus.
The Orthodox cleric was invited to address MEPs in the context of
the "European Year of Intercultural Dialogue" programme aiming at
creating closer links between European cultures, languages, ethnic
groups and religions.
MEPs boycott religious visits
Several Green, Liberal and Socialist MEPs refrained from listening
to the Orthodox leader’s address in a protest of what they see as
the inappropriate intertwining of political and religious matters.
Belgian Socialist MEP Veronique De Keyser in a press release said
they were "sound[ing] the alarm for democracy and the separation of
church and state."
The Belgian deputy warned that under the "mantle of the intercultural
year" religions "have gone on the offensive" – something that violates
the principle of separation of church and state on which the European
parliament is based.
She also warned that if people were not careful in upholding the
division between politics and religion "The extreme right might
take advantage."
Still no women in sight
"The real reason for these invitations of religious leaders is to,
ultimately, bring the Pope to Brussels," Dutch Liberal MEP Sophie in
‘t Veld told EUobserver.
"That would, for many MEPs, be the ultimate achievement of their
careers – as well as a photo opportunity never before seen," she
explained, adding that she was getting "tired of the whole thing."
Ms in ‘t Veld earlier this year raised her voice against the fact that
neither women nor non-religious groups, such as organised humanists,
were represented in the list of invitees.
Replying to the criticism, the parliament’s president, Hans-Gert
Poettering, then pointed out that the list of speakers was not final,
and that "with goodwill," the EP would be able to produce "as balanced
a list as possible."
Only one woman speaker – Ms Asma Jahangir, a UN rapporteur on
freedom of religion – has so far appeared in Brussels as part of the
programme, despite the fact that various Christians around Europe
are led in worship by female priests, pastors and bishops, and only
after pressure from MEPs who demanded female representation.
"Curiously, on the day Ms Jahangir spoke, Mr Poettering had other
things to do. It is a matter of courtesy, if she is invited to speak,
he can at least show the courtesy of being present in plenary," Ms in
‘t Veld said.
"I am offended, as a politician and as a woman."