By Harut Sassounian
The Armenian Patriarch of Turkey, Mesrob II, has been touring various
European capitals in the past couple of weeks in order to drum up support
for Turkey’s eventual membership in the European Union (EU).
While previous Patriarchs, on certain occasions, have been asked by the
Turkish government to participate in specific campaigns on behalf of
Turkey, this is the first time that the religious head of the Armenian
Church in Istanbul has embarked on such an elaborate and visible effort, in
full cooperation and coordination with the Turkish government.
The Patriarch’s undertaking has generated quite a bit of controversy in the
Diaspora. Questions have been raised as to why a prominent Armenian
clergyman would involve himself in a campaign that clearly furthers the
interests of the sworn enemy of the Armenian nation? Here’s my analysis of
the possible reasons for the Patriarch’s involvement in this effort.
As joining the European Union has been the long sought goal of the Turkish
government, the Turks have spared no effort to accomplish that objective.
They are particularly anxious at this time, because the EU countries
meeting in Copenhagen next week may consider designating a specific date
for the start of accession talks with Turkey. Recognizing that the support
of the Armenian Patriarch, as the leader of the largest Christian Church in
Islamic Turkey, would make a positive impression on the reluctant
Europeans, the Turkish officials most probably urged him to embark on this
lobbying tour of European capitals.
The Patriarch, however, may have had his own reasons for going along with
this Turkish suggestion:
1) Realizing how anxious the Turks are to join the EU, he may have
calculated that by supporting that effort he may be gaining a valuable
chip, an IOU, that he could later use to gain concessions from the Turkish
government for the benefit of the local Armenian community;
2) During his meetings with various EU officials, the Patriarch
would have the opportunity to privately present to them the hardships
suffered by the Armenian community in Turkey and ask them to ensure that
the Turkish authorities implement the promised reforms before permitting
Turkey to enter the EU;
3) The Patriarch believes that Turkey’s membership in the EU will be
beneficial not only to the Turks, but also to the Armenians in Turkey whose
rights would be protected by the European Union. If these are the
Patriarch’s calculations, he may be disappointed to find out that:
1) The Turks, true to their long-standing habit dating back to the Ottoman
days, are simply exploiting the Patriarch to accomplish their own
interests. Once the Turkish officials achieve their desired goal of EU
membership, they would no longer have any reason to keep the promises they
made to the Patriarch.
2) It is apparent that the Turkish officials are not interested in
implementing any real reforms and have no desire to grant additional rights
to the minorities in Turkey. Their sole objective seems to be to join the
EU with the least number of changes in their existing restrictive practices
and laws. Rather than complying with the EU requirements, the Turks are
attempting to join the EU by means of applying political pressure on the
European countries, with the
assistance of the hawks in the U.S. government for whom using Turkish bases
for the invasion of Iraq is much more important than achieving democratic
reforms in Turkey.
3) The final downside to the Patriarch’s personal involvement in the EU
lobbying process is that he would leave himself open to future Turkish
requests for countering various Armenian demands from Turkey. Until now,
the Patriarch and his predecessors managed to minimize their involvement in
such campaigns by claiming that as clergymen they can not participate in
political activities. Following the Patriarch’s involvement in the EU
lobbying process, he may be continuously pressured by the Turkish
government to serve as a pawn in other political campaigns, such as
countering international efforts for the recognition of the Armenian
Genocide, condemning the “Armenian occupation” of Karabagh, and even being
asked to criticize the making of movies like “Ararat.”
Here is a chronology of the recent events that led to the Patriarch’s
involvement in the EU campaign and some of the interesting episodes of his
visit to various European capitals.
On October 9, the Forum of Armenian Associations in Europe (FAAE) published
a 46-page report documenting the long list of discriminations against the
Armenians of Turkey. The FAAE called on the EU not to consider Turkey for
membership until the latter respected the basic human rights of its
minorities. In response, the Armenian Patriarchate
of Turkey issued a statement on Oct. 17, deploring any interference from
outside in the domestic affairs of the local Armenian community
particularly at such a critical juncture when Turkey’s membership in the EU
is under consideration. The Patriarchate expressed its regret that
“unfounded and unjust claims are being advanced against our community.” The
Turkish “Hurriyet” newspaper published on October 30, a lengthy article on
the FAAE’s report and “the Armenian Patriarchate’s harsh reaction.”
On November 11, the Patriarch presided over a special meeting of the
leaders of the Armenian community of Istanbul as well as the members of the
Church Council. The community leaders issued a collective declaration
supporting Turkey’s application for EU membership and expressed the hope
that the shortcomings in the recently passed laws on minority rights would
be corrected.
On November 12, Hurriyet published an article claiming that Patriarch
Mesrob II, “after consulting with and receiving the approval of the Turkish
Foreign Ministry,” sent 500 letters to the leaders of Europe, the Foreign
Ministers, heads of churches and other organizations, urging them to
support Turkey’s membership in the EU. The Patriarch was reported to have
said in his letter that even though there are imperfections in the reforms
recently adopted by the Turkish Parliament regarding minority rights, “we
believe that Turkey will carry out these reforms more easily once it sits
at the table of [EU] accession talks.”
On November 24, the Patriarch embarked on his tour of several European
countries to drum up support for Turkey’s membership in the EU. After a
press conference at the Istanbul airport, he flew to Denmark. He was met at
the Copenhagen airport by Jemal Erbay, a senior aide to the Turkish
Ambassador.
On November 25, the Anadolu Agency reported that the Armenian Patriarch
“will carry out lobbying activities” in Europe to secure a date for
Turkey’s EU accession talks. The Turkish “Zaman” newspaper reported that
the Patriarch met with Claus Larsen Jansen, the parliamentary leader of
Denmark’s EU relations commission, and Bertel Harter, the Danish Foreign
Ministry’s representative for the EU. According to Zaman, Harter asked the
Patriarch, “aren’t you Armenian?” to which the Patriarch replied, “I am
both an Armenian and a Turk. I carry both identities. Nowadays heroism lies
in dialogue, tolerance, and the living together of different nationalities.
In my person, I embody this union. The EU should do the same.” Reporters
from both Zaman and Milliyet newspapers were present at this meeting. Later
that day, the Patriarch gave a press conference at the Copenhagen
international press center.
On November 27, the Turkish “Jumhurriyet” newspaper reported that the AK
Party, which holds the majority of the seats in the newly-elected Turkish
Parliament, has prepared revised regulations for submission to the EU,
facilitating the procedures for donating real estate to minority charities.
On November 27, Hurriyet published a front-page article on the Patriarch’s
visit to Paris under the sensational headline, “A Patriarch who goes
against tradition.” Here are some excerpts from that article: “Patriarch
Mesrob II does not behave like the previous Patriarchs. When his
predecessors came to France, they used to make up their own agenda.
However, Mesrob II conducts all his meetings in the Turkish Embassy of
Paris in the presence of the Turkish Ambassador…. Upon his arrival from
Copenhagen, the Turkish Ambassador in France, Uluc Ozulker, greeted him at
the airport’s VIP lounge. Since then, the Patriarch has followed an agenda
in close cooperation with the Turkish Embassy. He meets with French
reporters at the Embassy. After his off-site meetings, he returns to the
Embassy and briefs the Ambassador.” The Patriarch met with several French
officials, including Renaud Musellier of the French Foreign Ministry, and
Herve de Charette, the former Foreign Minister and currently the leader of
the French Assembly’s France-Turkey Friendship Group. He also met with
reporters from Le Figaro, Le Monde, La Croix and the Agence France Press.
The Turkish Ambassador organized a luncheon-reception at the Embassy in
honor of the Patriarch. During his press conference at the Turkish Embassy
in Paris, the Patriarch complained about the coverage of his visit by
certain Turkish newspapers. He said that he is a clergyman, therefore it
would be wrong
to describe his meetings as a lobbying activity.
On November 27, 500 French Armenians held a demonstration in Paris to
protest against the visit of Rejeb Tayyip Erdogan, the Chairman of the AK
Party who was visiting France to lobby for the French government’s support
for Turkey’s EU membership. The demonstrators demanded that Turkey not be
permitted to join the EU until it recognizes the Armenian Genocide and
lifts the blockade of Armenia. Ironically, while some Armenians were
protesting against Erdogan, Hurriyet reported that the Patriarch was warmly
received by Erdogan at the Turkish Embassy. In fact, the Patriarch happened
to walk in the Embassy as Erdogan was in the middle of a press conference
with 70 journalists. Erdogan was reported to have interrupted the
conference, shook the Patriarch’s hand and thanked him for his efforts.
On November 27, the Patriarch met with two French Senators, Jacques Oudine,
the leader of France-Armenia Friendship Group and Michel Pelchat.
Interestingly, the Senators told the Armenian Patriarch that Turkey must
eliminate the few obstacles that stem from its history. They also urged
Turkey to improve its relations with Armenia. The Senators then directly
mentioned the issue of the Armenian Genocide. The Patriarch, according to
the Marmara newspaper, replied that the purpose of his visit was not to
discuss such issues. No other community will be as pleased with the
resolution of the genocide issue as the Armenian community of Turkey, the
Patriarch told the Senators. The Armenian Patriarchate is closely following
the developments on this issue, said the Patriarch. Later that day, the
Patriarch met with Edouard Nalbandian, Armenia’s Ambassador in France. The
Patriarch explained to
him that Turkey’s membership in the EU would be beneficial not only to the
Armenians in Turkey, but also to Armenia. According to the Patriarchate’s
website, Amb. Nalbandian responded by saying that he finds it very natural
for the Armenians of Turkey to support Turkey’s EU membership. He further
said that Armenia does not have any particular reservations about this
issue, however, certain political groups in the Diaspora are opposed to it.
On November 29, the Anadolu Agency reported that the Patriarch met in
Brussels with Romano Prodi, the EU Commission President, and several other
EU officials. The Patriarch told the press in Belgium that “the minorities
in Turkey live in harmony,” according to the Anadolu Agency. He
acknowledged that there were some problems and expressed the hope that the
new government in Turkey will solve them shortly. The Turkish Ambassador
at the EU, Oguz Demiralp, honored the Patriarch with a dinner at the
Embassy.
The Patriarch then continued his tour of European countries by making stops
in England, Germany and the Vatican.
Yorumlar kapatıldı.