agamemnon

REPORT BY E***ENICAL PATRIARCH BARTHOLOMEW ON THE PROBLEMS OF THE MINORITY

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY

Thessaloniki, September 3, 2003

E***enical Patriarch Bartholomew allegedly delivered a report to the Turkish
leadership on the problems faced by Orthodox Christians in Turkey. According
to a news report on the Turkish newspaper "Milliyet", the E***enical
Patriarch protested against the
policy followed by Turkey toward minorities in a meeting he had in Ankara
with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul.
In the report prepared by the E***enical Patriarch, the contents of which
were presented by CNN Turk, is mentioned among others, that Turkey never
proceeded with a strict implementation of the Lauzanne Treaty articles
concerning minorities and that it fo
llows a policy aimed at minority cleansing. It is also mentioned that the
policy followed regarded the minorities as dangerous, while the latest
harmonization laws with the EU are not being implemented.
In addition, a reference is made to the Theology School of Halki, while
regret is expressed regarding the restrictions in the education of Greek
children who are Turkish nationals.

agamemnon

REPORT BY E***ENICAL PATRIARCH BARTHOLOMEW ON THE PROBLEMS OF THE MINORITY

MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY

Thessaloniki, September 3, 2003

E***enical Patriarch Bartholomew allegedly delivered a report to the Turkish
leadership on the problems faced by Orthodox Christians in Turkey. According
to a news report on the Turkish newspaper "Milliyet", the E***enical
Patriarch protested against the
policy followed by Turkey toward minorities in a meeting he had in Ankara
with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul.
In the report prepared by the E***enical Patriarch, the contents of which
were presented by CNN Turk, is mentioned among others, that Turkey never
proceeded with a strict implementation of the Lauzanne Treaty articles
concerning minorities and that it fo
llows a policy aimed at minority cleansing. It is also mentioned that the
policy followed regarded the minorities as dangerous, while the latest
harmonization laws with the EU are not being implemented.
In addition, a reference is made to the Theology School of Halki, while
regret is expressed regarding the restrictions in the education of Greek
children who are Turkish nationals.