IV 

109TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 166 

Urging Turkey to respect the rights and religious freedoms of the Ecumenical 

Patriarch. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 16, 2005 

Mr. MENENDEZ (for himself, Mrs. MALONEY, and Mr. BILIRAKIS) submitted 

the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on International Relations 

RESOLUTION 

Urging Turkey to respect the rights and religious freedoms 

of the Ecumenical Patriarch. 

Whereas Turkey is scheduled to begin accession negotiations 

with the European Union on October 3, 2005; 

Whereas in 1993 the European Union defined the membership criteria for accession to the European Union at the 

Copenhagen European Council, obligating candidate 

countries to have achieved certain levels of reform, including stability of institutions guaranteeing democracy, 

the rule of law, and human rights, and respect for and 

protection of minorities; 

Whereas under the terms of the draft European Union constitution, current and prospective member states should 

have the goal of eliminating discrimination based on any 
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•HRES 166 IH 

ground, such as sex, race, color, ethnic or social origin, 

genetic features, language, religion or belief, political or 

any other opinion, membership of a national minority, 

property, birth, disability, age, or sexual orientation; 

Whereas the Government of Turkey refuses to recognize the 

Ecumenical Patriarch’s international status; 

Whereas the Government of Turkey has limited to Turkish 

nationals the candidates available to the Holy Synod for 

selection as the Ecumenical Patriarch and reneged on its 

agreement to reopen the Theological School at Halki, 

thus impeding training for the clergy; 

Whereas the Government of Turkey has confiscated 75 percent of the Ecumenical Patriarchal properties and has 

placed a 42 percent retroactive tax on the Balukli Hospital which is run by the Ecumenical Patriarchate; 

Whereas in October 2004, the European Commission recommended opening accession negotiations with Turkey if 

Turkey continued to make progress on democratic and 

human rights reforms; and 

Whereas in December 2004, the European Council agreed to 

open accession negotiations with Turkey in October 2005, 

conditional upon the continuation by Turkey of reform 

processes to increase protection and support for human 

rights and civil liberties: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) expresses its view that Turkey must prove 

3 that it is ready meet the criteria set forth by the Co4 penhagen European Council prior to the start of ac5 cession negotiations with the European Union sched6 uled to begin on October 3, 2005; 
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•HRES 166 IH 

1 (2) calls on Turkey to respect European Union 

2 laws and demonstrate that it is willing to abide by 

3 such laws; 

4 (3) based on the goals set forth in the draft 

5 European Union constitution, calls on Turkey to 

6 eliminate all forms of discrimination, particularly 

7 those based on race or religion, and immediately— 

8 (A) grant the Ecumenical Patriarch appro9 priate international recognition and ecclesiastic 

10 succession; 

11 (B) grant the Ecumenical Patriarchate the 

12 right to train clergy of all nationalities, not just 

13 Turkish nationals; and 

14 (C) respect property rights and human 

15 rights of the Ecumenical Patriarchate; 

16 (4) calls on Turkey to pledge to uphold and 

17 safeguard religious and human rights without com18 promise; and 

19 (5) encourages Turkey to continue the advance20 ment of processes and programs to modernize and 

21 democratize its own society. 

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