''Ecumenical'' Issue Stirs Tension in Turkey
A furor in Turkey ignited by the title of a Christian spiritual leader on a U.S. embassy invitation has underscored concerns about the largely Muslim country's treatment of minorities
A furor in Turkey ignited by the title of a Christian spiritual leader on a U.S. embassy invitation has underscored concerns about the largely Muslim country's treatment of minorities two weeks before the European Union decides whether to open membership talks with Ankara, news agencies reported Friday.
According to the Associated Press, Turkish officials were furious when the U.S. Embassy sent out invitations for a reception on Thursday hosted by Ambassador Eric Edelman that referred to Patriarch Bartholomew I as "ecumenical patriarch".
Bartholomew, considered "first among equals" of the world's Orthodox patriarchs, directly controls several Greek Orthodox Churches around the world.
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Though the title “ecumenical” has long been accepted by the United States and Europe, Turkey has rejected the patriarch’s use of the title "ecumenical," or universal and has long refused to accept any international role for the patriarch, AP reported. The predominantly Muslim nation argues the patriarch is merely spiritual leader of Istanbul's dwindling Orthodox community of less than 3,000.
“Turkey's desire to contain Bartholomew's influence to Istanbul stems from a deep mistrust many Turks feel toward the patriarchate because of its traditional ties with Greece, Turkey's historical regional rival,” AP reported.
During a meeting in Istanbul last week with Greek Tourism Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos, Bartholomew—who is both a Turkish citizen and ethnic Greek—said, “We are very saddened, both as a patriarchate and as a community. We had expected our problems to end, and now we have all sorts of new issues coming out."
"None of our problems has been solved. We have more attacks against us even though we are on the brink of a decision to get a date for Europe,” the patriarch added.
For Turkey, which has waited 40 years to become a part of Europe and has made EU membership its top priority after, the dispute comes at an inopportune time as two weeks remain before the Dec. 17 summit that will decide whether to begin membership negotiations for its entry into the EU.
With the present situation concerning press freedom, religious freedom and respect of minority rights in Turkey being “far from perfect” the EU has suggested that improved rights for ethnic and religious minorities would be a condition for membership.
In a statement issued by the EU, the union said "religious freedom is subject to serious limitations as compared with European standards," also noting that "the ecclesiastical title of Ecumenical Patriarch is still banned."
Though the European Commission—the EU's executive arm—recommended at the start of October that the EU start membership talks with Ankara, it also warned that the process was not guaranteed to result in Turkey's EU entry.
In its Oct. 6 recommendation, the EU commission said it would call for talks to be suspended "in case of a serious and persistent breach of the principles of liberty, democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms and the rule of law on which the Union is founded.”
Parts of an EU draft document obtained by AFP also reiterated warnings contained in the October Commission report that EU talks with Turkey could be suspended in case of a violation of fundamental EU principles.
