Netherlands Churches Urge Conditions on Turkey's EU Membership
The Council of Churches in the Netherlands said Turkey must recognize religious minorities within its borders before entering the European Union (EU)
The Council of Churches in the Netherlands said Turkey must recognize religious minorities within its borders before entering the European Union (EU), news agencies reported Friday. In an open letter to the Netherlands Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende the council said the fact that Turkey is a predominantly Muslim nation was no bar from membership, but stressed the EU should insist it recognize Syrian, Orthodox and other religious minorities.
"It is important that all religious minorities gain the right to build and maintain buildings such as churches and monasteries, to set up theological training, to speak and teach in their own language, and to be free in carrying out diaconal and other church-related activities," stated the council, which comprises Protestant, Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches. Currently, Turkey still does not formally recognize the Syrian Orthodox minority living within its borders.
The council of churches also said in their letter that it would be a "confidence-building sign" by the Turkish authorities if it publicly admitted the genocide of Armenians in 1915 by its predecessor, the Ottoman Empire. According to sources, books about the massacre are banned in Turkey.
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Turkey, which has waited 40 years to become a part of Europe, has made EU membership its top priority. As the European Union decides whether to open membership talks with Ankara, Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a devout Muslim, is reportedly keen to project a positive image of the country's treatment of minorities.
In a bid to showcase Turkey as a country that respects religion, Erdogan inaugurated a church, a synagogue, and a mosque on Wednesday. The inauguration was made possible only after Turkey changed laws that restricted the opening of houses of worship other than mosques to boost its chances of EU membership.
Most recently, the European Commission voiced support for Turkey's bid to join the EU and expressed hope for a "positive outcome" at a summit next week, but warned that recognition of Cyprus is crucial to Ankara's hopes, AFP reported Friday.
Currently, Turkey recognizes only the Turkish Cypriot enclave in north Cyprus, while the rest of the world views the Greek Cypriot government in the south, which joined the EU in May, as the sole legitimate representative of the whole island.
