A Publication of the ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN LAITY
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| Volume 6 Number 38 - Tuesday, September 21st, 2004 |
A Publication of the ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN LAITY |
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The Orthodox Christian News Service |
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Turkish Violence Against the Patriarchate Should Not Be ToleratedTo the Editor: On September 5, 2004 the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Constantinope/Istanbul, the spiritual center for more than 300 million Orthodox Christians worldwide, was victim to violent demonstrations by extreme nationalistic and political groups in Turkey. Turkey has applied restrictions to religious freedom of the Ecumenical Patriarchate which reveal that democratic norms have still not taken root. This is especially significant as Turkey is seeking European Union membership. Furthermore, Turkey has tolerated assaults against its Greek Orthodox religious minority and continues illegal closure of the Greek Orthodox Halki Patriarchal School of Theology in Istanbul. AHI calls on the U.S. to condemn the violent acts against the Ecumenical Patriarchate and pressure Turkey to enforce strictly the guarantees of religious freedom set forth in the Treaty of Lausanne, the UN Charter and other international agreements. It is in the interests of the U.S. to press for changes in Turkey in regard to respect for minorities, religious rights, and democratic standards. In accordance with U.S. law expressed in Section 2804 of the Fiscal Year 1999 Appropriations Bill, initiated by AHI, we urge the U.S. government to use its influence with the Turkish government to safeguard the Ecumenical Patriarchate, its personnel, and its property, and to reopen the Halki Patriarchal School of Theology. It is in the interests of the U.S. to press for changes now in Turkey in regard to respect for minorities, religious rights, and democratic standards. The U.S. has appeased Turkey to the detriment of U.S. interests for decades. When is the U.S. going to apply the rule of law and democratic standards to Turkey? Now will be a good time to start. I call upon your readers, and all Greek Americans to call and email President Bush, Senator Kerry, your representative and your senators to: 1. Condemn the violent protests against the Ecumenical Patriarchate and 2. To press for changes in Turkey in accordance with U.S. law expressed in Section 2804 of the Fiscal Year 1999 Appropriations Bill to safeguard the Ecumenical Patriarchate and to reopen the Halki Patriarchal School of Theology. Contact the President at: White House, The Honorable George W. Bush, President, The White House, Washington, D.C. 20500; Phone: (202) 456-1111 (Presidents message line); Fax: (202) 456-0200; E-Mail: president@whitehouse.gov. Contact Senator Kerry at: Kerry-Edwards 2004, Inc.,P.O. Box 34640, Washington, D.C. 20043; Phone: (202) 712-3000; Fax: 202-712-3001 or at his Senate office: Senator John Kerry, 304 Russell Senate Bldg. Washington, D.C. 20510; Phone: (202) 224-2742; Fax: (202) 224-8525 Contact your representative and senator at: U.S. House of Representatives or U.S. Senate, The Honorable (name), Washington, D.C. 20515; Phone: (202) 224-3121 or (202) 224-3121. Please report any action taken to Nick Larigakis at the American Hellenic Institute by calling (202) 785-8430 or sending an e-mail to info@ahiworld.org.
Nick Larigakis
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