Parliament Commission only 'revising' and not 'rewriting' charter
ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News
Vercihan Ziflioğlu vercihan.ziflioglu@hurriyet.com.tr
Parliament’s Constitution Conciliation Commission is not writing a new charter, but rather revising the charter formed in 1982 after the military coup, lawyer Mehmet Uçum told reporters yesterday at the announcement of a report titled “The Making of a New Constitution in Turkey,” published by the Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation (TESEV).
Uçum said that the new civilian charter should be “public-focused.”
Only the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) could agree on a definition of citizenship which does not emphasize ethnic identity, while the main opposition Republican and People’s Party (CHP) and the Nationalistic Movement Party (MHP) insisted on the opposite, said the report.
Journalist Etyen Mahçupyan, also a writer of the report, said that the AKP has three major problems to resolve: the Kurdish question, military tutelage and the Constitution.
March/28/2013
28 Mart 2013 Perşembe
27 Mart 2013 Çarşamba
Armenian origin soldier killed accidentally: Court
DİYARBAKIR/Vercihan Ziflioğlu vercihan.ziflioglu@hurriyet.com.tr
A Diyarbakır military judge sentenced yesterday a private to four years and five months in prison for killing Armenian-Turkish soldier Sevag Balıkçı with “conscious negligence,” but stopped short of sentencing the suspect to the more serious charge of deliberate murder.
“It seems my dear Sevag’s life was that cheap, so killing is legal,” the dead soldier’s mother, Ani Balıkçı, told the Hürriyet Daily News on the phone yesterday.
Ağaoğlu, who killed Balıkçı on April 24, 2011, will serve three years in prison for killing Balıkçı “with a stray bullet.”
In passing the sentence, the Diyarbakır Air Force Command Military Court dismissed the Balıkçı family’s lawyers’ demands to sentence Ağaoğlu on charges of deliberate murder. Ani Balıkçı and lawyer Cem Halavurt said they would appeal at a higher court and would consider carrying the case to the European Court of Human Rights if their demands were not met. They will also hold a press conference on the court verdict. “We are determined to continue our legal battle,” Balıkçı said. “We may even take the case to the European Court of Human Rights if we have to.”
Activist Garo Paylan noted that the date of Balıkçı’s killing was the anniversary of April 24, the annual date recognized internationally for remembering the victims of violence at the end of the Ottoman Empire.
“He was killed on an April 24 and it coincided with Easter, but the judge did not pay heed to our warnings,” Baylan said. “The investigation should have been extended.”
Paylan said Ağaoğlu’s lawyers were expecting the decision.
“After the decision was announced, they made statements such as, ‘The minorities are our brothers,’” Paylan said. “That was a decision they had been expecting.”
March/27/2013
DİYARBAKIR/Vercihan Ziflioğlu vercihan.ziflioglu@hurriyet.com.tr
A Diyarbakır military judge sentenced yesterday a private to four years and five months in prison for killing Armenian-Turkish soldier Sevag Balıkçı with “conscious negligence,” but stopped short of sentencing the suspect to the more serious charge of deliberate murder.
“It seems my dear Sevag’s life was that cheap, so killing is legal,” the dead soldier’s mother, Ani Balıkçı, told the Hürriyet Daily News on the phone yesterday.
Ağaoğlu, who killed Balıkçı on April 24, 2011, will serve three years in prison for killing Balıkçı “with a stray bullet.”
In passing the sentence, the Diyarbakır Air Force Command Military Court dismissed the Balıkçı family’s lawyers’ demands to sentence Ağaoğlu on charges of deliberate murder. Ani Balıkçı and lawyer Cem Halavurt said they would appeal at a higher court and would consider carrying the case to the European Court of Human Rights if their demands were not met. They will also hold a press conference on the court verdict. “We are determined to continue our legal battle,” Balıkçı said. “We may even take the case to the European Court of Human Rights if we have to.”
Activist Garo Paylan noted that the date of Balıkçı’s killing was the anniversary of April 24, the annual date recognized internationally for remembering the victims of violence at the end of the Ottoman Empire.
“He was killed on an April 24 and it coincided with Easter, but the judge did not pay heed to our warnings,” Baylan said. “The investigation should have been extended.”
Paylan said Ağaoğlu’s lawyers were expecting the decision.
“After the decision was announced, they made statements such as, ‘The minorities are our brothers,’” Paylan said. “That was a decision they had been expecting.”
March/27/2013
24 Mart 2013 Pazar
Van to Yerevan flights set to bypass blocked borders
ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News
Vercihan Ziflioğlu vercihan.ziflioglu@hurriyet.com.tr
Direct flights from the Turkish city of Van to the Armenian capital Yerevan will start to operate on April 3, despite closed borders, marking the first of a kind for Turkey’s eastern cities.
The flights, approved by both Turkish and Armenian authorities, will be hosted by the private Borajet company. Passengers will be boarded on planes that can hold up to 67 passengers and the journey will take about 45 minutes. Tickets will cost around $200.
“This is a private flight and the authority that gives permission for this flight is the Directorate General of Civil Aviation,” Turkish Foreign Ministry officials said, declining any further comment.
Azerbaijani Parliament speaker Ziyafat Asgarov said it was necessary to examine the issue more thoroughly before commenting.
“One must take into account that Turkey is protecting Azerbaijan’s fair interests and has not opened its border with Armenia up to now,” he was quoted as saying by AzerNews website.
“Turkey is not going to open the border with Armenia in the future. As far as I know, this flight will be made by a private airline. In any case, we have the right to know why this has happened. I think statements will probably be made in connection with this issue [by Turkey].”
Van Trade Association head Ayhan Fidan told the Hürriyet Daily News that they expected a high demand for the planned flights. “As businessmen in Van we want to trade with Armenia, and the main cause behind these flights is trade,” Fidan said. “However we do not see the same excitement from the other side yet.”
Cultural interaction
Cultural interaction will also benefit from the flights, he added. “When the [Ahtamar] church on our island was opened, Van became an appealing touristic destination. Armenia and its diaspora have shown real interest in such cultural tourism,” he said. Fidan also said Iran was initially part of the route, but that the destination was removed by Iranian authorities in March. Flights to Armenia had previously taken off from Istanbul, Antalya and Bodrum, but the new route will not create negative competition, according to the owner of Borajet.
“I don’t think these flights will last very long. They will mostly be used by tourists. Perhaps in the summer there may be an interest coming from the diaspora too,” said Dikran Altun, the owner of Towertur which already operates flights between Istanbul and Yerevan.
In addition to air travel, bus rides from Istanbul to Yerevan are operated every week.
March/22/2013
ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News
Vercihan Ziflioğlu vercihan.ziflioglu@hurriyet.com.tr
Direct flights from the Turkish city of Van to the Armenian capital Yerevan will start to operate on April 3, despite closed borders, marking the first of a kind for Turkey’s eastern cities.
The flights, approved by both Turkish and Armenian authorities, will be hosted by the private Borajet company. Passengers will be boarded on planes that can hold up to 67 passengers and the journey will take about 45 minutes. Tickets will cost around $200.
“This is a private flight and the authority that gives permission for this flight is the Directorate General of Civil Aviation,” Turkish Foreign Ministry officials said, declining any further comment.
Azerbaijani Parliament speaker Ziyafat Asgarov said it was necessary to examine the issue more thoroughly before commenting.
“One must take into account that Turkey is protecting Azerbaijan’s fair interests and has not opened its border with Armenia up to now,” he was quoted as saying by AzerNews website.
“Turkey is not going to open the border with Armenia in the future. As far as I know, this flight will be made by a private airline. In any case, we have the right to know why this has happened. I think statements will probably be made in connection with this issue [by Turkey].”
Van Trade Association head Ayhan Fidan told the Hürriyet Daily News that they expected a high demand for the planned flights. “As businessmen in Van we want to trade with Armenia, and the main cause behind these flights is trade,” Fidan said. “However we do not see the same excitement from the other side yet.”
Cultural interaction
Cultural interaction will also benefit from the flights, he added. “When the [Ahtamar] church on our island was opened, Van became an appealing touristic destination. Armenia and its diaspora have shown real interest in such cultural tourism,” he said. Fidan also said Iran was initially part of the route, but that the destination was removed by Iranian authorities in March. Flights to Armenia had previously taken off from Istanbul, Antalya and Bodrum, but the new route will not create negative competition, according to the owner of Borajet.
“I don’t think these flights will last very long. They will mostly be used by tourists. Perhaps in the summer there may be an interest coming from the diaspora too,” said Dikran Altun, the owner of Towertur which already operates flights between Istanbul and Yerevan.
In addition to air travel, bus rides from Istanbul to Yerevan are operated every week.
March/22/2013
20 Mart 2013 Çarşamba
Mor Gabriel, school on agenda of meeting between Turkish FM and Syriac leaders
ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News
Vercihan Ziflioğlu vercihan.ziflioglu@hurriyet.com.tr
The issue of Mor Gabriel Monastery and the Syriacs’ demand for a school were on the agenda of a meeting between Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu and Syriac leaders on March 18.
The Mor Gabriel Foundation’s head, Kuryakos Ergün, said Davutoğlu offered to pay rent for the historic monastery, an offer that Syriac leaders turned down.
“Mr. Davutoğlu said he visited the Monastery before taking office as Foreign Minister,” Ergün said.
Mor Gabriel is a 1,700-year-old historic monastery located in the southeastern province of Mardin’s Midyat district. In 2008, the Forestry Ministry, the Land Registry Cadastre Office and the villages of Yayvantepe, Çandarlı and Eğlence sued the monastery for allegedly occupying their fields. The lawsuit was finalized last year, recognizing the monastery as an “occupier.” The case was then brought to the European Court of Human Rights. The future of the monastery currently hinges on the ECHR’s decision.
Demand for a Syriac School
The Syriac community’s need for a school was also discussed in the meeting. The community attempted to open a kindergarten last year, but Ankara did not authorize it. “When the matter of a school was opened up, they naturally reminded [us] that we are exempt from the Lausanne [Treaty]. Mr. Davutoğlu said we were not minorities,” Ergün said. According to the Lausanne Treaty signed in 1923, Syriacs are not recognized among Turkey’s minority communities.
“We also conveyed to him the problems Syriacs have on that matter,” Ergün said.
Istanbul Metropolitan Yusuf Çetin, Turkish Syriac Catholic Deputy Patriarch Chorepiscopus Yusuf Sağ, Turabidin Metropolitan Samuel Aktaş, Adıyaman Metropolitan Melki Ürek, Mardin-Diyarbakır Metropolitan Saliba Özmen and the Mor Gabriel Foundation’s head, Kuryakos Ergün, were present at the meeting in Ankara.
March/20/2013
ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News
Vercihan Ziflioğlu vercihan.ziflioglu@hurriyet.com.tr
The issue of Mor Gabriel Monastery and the Syriacs’ demand for a school were on the agenda of a meeting between Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu and Syriac leaders on March 18.
The Mor Gabriel Foundation’s head, Kuryakos Ergün, said Davutoğlu offered to pay rent for the historic monastery, an offer that Syriac leaders turned down.
“Mr. Davutoğlu said he visited the Monastery before taking office as Foreign Minister,” Ergün said.
Mor Gabriel is a 1,700-year-old historic monastery located in the southeastern province of Mardin’s Midyat district. In 2008, the Forestry Ministry, the Land Registry Cadastre Office and the villages of Yayvantepe, Çandarlı and Eğlence sued the monastery for allegedly occupying their fields. The lawsuit was finalized last year, recognizing the monastery as an “occupier.” The case was then brought to the European Court of Human Rights. The future of the monastery currently hinges on the ECHR’s decision.
Demand for a Syriac School
The Syriac community’s need for a school was also discussed in the meeting. The community attempted to open a kindergarten last year, but Ankara did not authorize it. “When the matter of a school was opened up, they naturally reminded [us] that we are exempt from the Lausanne [Treaty]. Mr. Davutoğlu said we were not minorities,” Ergün said. According to the Lausanne Treaty signed in 1923, Syriacs are not recognized among Turkey’s minority communities.
“We also conveyed to him the problems Syriacs have on that matter,” Ergün said.
Istanbul Metropolitan Yusuf Çetin, Turkish Syriac Catholic Deputy Patriarch Chorepiscopus Yusuf Sağ, Turabidin Metropolitan Samuel Aktaş, Adıyaman Metropolitan Melki Ürek, Mardin-Diyarbakır Metropolitan Saliba Özmen and the Mor Gabriel Foundation’s head, Kuryakos Ergün, were present at the meeting in Ankara.
March/20/2013
19 Mart 2013 Salı
Patriarch to join papal Mass after millenium
Vercihan Ziflioğlu vercihan.ziflioglu@hurriyet.com.tr
Fener Greek Patriarch Bartholomew, the spiritual leader of the Orthodox world, will attend the installation Mass for Pope Francis in Rome on Tuesday, March 19, for the first time since the Great Schism in 1054.
Acting Patriarch Archbishop Aram Ateşyan from the Armenian Patriarchate of Turkey will also be present at the Vatican, with a delegation of clergymen. Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdağ is also expected to attend the ceremony.
“The alienation of old times has disappeared. As two brother churches, we are getting closer each day. We also have a theological dialogue, and the position of the pope in the Christian world is at the center of this dialogue,” Bartholomew said in a televised interview before he left Turkey yesterday.
Fener Greek Patriarchate press secretary Father Dositheos Anagnostopulos told the Hürriyet Daily News, “The first meeting [between the East and West Churches] was in 1054. Nearly 1,000 years have passed since then.”
Asked whether the meeting would contribute to the relationship between the two churches, Anagnostopulos said, “Of course, it has symbolic importance in this regard.”
According to Anagnostopulos, Ioannis Zizioulas, metropolitan of Pergamon and co-president of the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church; Tarassiocs, Orthodox Metropolitan of Argentina; and Gennadios, Orthodox metropolitan of Italy, will accompany the patriarch.
Dr. Lütfü Özşahin, a historian specializing in the history of religions, said the meeting was crucial in many aspects. Özşahin recalled that the Second Vatican Council, which was organized as a first attempt to create dialogue between the two churches, took place in 1965.
“This meeting is important since it will bring the Christian world together. It also has a political dimension. Keep in mind that even though it is not officially mentioned, the EU is a holy alliance of Christians, while the Fener Greek patriarch is the spiritual leader of the Orthodox world. Whether Turkey accepts it or not, the Fener Greek Patriarchate is ecumenical, thus it has a primary importance for Orthodoxies,” Özşahin said. Turkey does not currently recognize the ecumenical status of the Fener Greek Patriarchate.
“Greeks, Serbians, Georgians and Armenians have independent churches, which means the Fener Greek patriarch cannot represent the whole Orthodox world in every aspect,” Özşahin said, adding that the Russian Orthodox Church, which has had conflicts with the Fener Greek Patriarchate for centuries, is a good illustration of this.
“This meeting also demonstrates the importance the pope gives to the Islamic world. After resolving the issues between Christians, the new pope might take action to engage in dialogue with the Islamic world,” Özşahin said.
Ateşyan said he welcomed the move. “The meeting is important in terms of resolving the problems between churches and sects, and improving relations between the Eastern and Western Churches.”
Professor İlber Ortaylı, a historian, on the other hand, felt it was misguided to read such far-reaching significance into the meeting. “They are going to congratulate [Pope Francis’ installation]; it shouldn’t be exaggerated.”
Meanwhile Turkey’s ambassador to the Vatican, Kenan Gürsoy, said they had observed a high degree of respect toward Bartholomew.
“We learned that esteemed Ateşyan will also be present. His visit is crucial for the representation of our country’s diversity,” Gürsoy said.
When asked for his views on the meeting, Gürsoy said it would be more appropriate to leave the comments to historians and experts on the subject.
March/19/2013
Vercihan Ziflioğlu vercihan.ziflioglu@hurriyet.com.tr
Fener Greek Patriarch Bartholomew, the spiritual leader of the Orthodox world, will attend the installation Mass for Pope Francis in Rome on Tuesday, March 19, for the first time since the Great Schism in 1054.
Acting Patriarch Archbishop Aram Ateşyan from the Armenian Patriarchate of Turkey will also be present at the Vatican, with a delegation of clergymen. Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdağ is also expected to attend the ceremony.
“The alienation of old times has disappeared. As two brother churches, we are getting closer each day. We also have a theological dialogue, and the position of the pope in the Christian world is at the center of this dialogue,” Bartholomew said in a televised interview before he left Turkey yesterday.
Fener Greek Patriarchate press secretary Father Dositheos Anagnostopulos told the Hürriyet Daily News, “The first meeting [between the East and West Churches] was in 1054. Nearly 1,000 years have passed since then.”
Asked whether the meeting would contribute to the relationship between the two churches, Anagnostopulos said, “Of course, it has symbolic importance in this regard.”
According to Anagnostopulos, Ioannis Zizioulas, metropolitan of Pergamon and co-president of the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church; Tarassiocs, Orthodox Metropolitan of Argentina; and Gennadios, Orthodox metropolitan of Italy, will accompany the patriarch.
Dr. Lütfü Özşahin, a historian specializing in the history of religions, said the meeting was crucial in many aspects. Özşahin recalled that the Second Vatican Council, which was organized as a first attempt to create dialogue between the two churches, took place in 1965.
“This meeting is important since it will bring the Christian world together. It also has a political dimension. Keep in mind that even though it is not officially mentioned, the EU is a holy alliance of Christians, while the Fener Greek patriarch is the spiritual leader of the Orthodox world. Whether Turkey accepts it or not, the Fener Greek Patriarchate is ecumenical, thus it has a primary importance for Orthodoxies,” Özşahin said. Turkey does not currently recognize the ecumenical status of the Fener Greek Patriarchate.
“Greeks, Serbians, Georgians and Armenians have independent churches, which means the Fener Greek patriarch cannot represent the whole Orthodox world in every aspect,” Özşahin said, adding that the Russian Orthodox Church, which has had conflicts with the Fener Greek Patriarchate for centuries, is a good illustration of this.
“This meeting also demonstrates the importance the pope gives to the Islamic world. After resolving the issues between Christians, the new pope might take action to engage in dialogue with the Islamic world,” Özşahin said.
Ateşyan said he welcomed the move. “The meeting is important in terms of resolving the problems between churches and sects, and improving relations between the Eastern and Western Churches.”
Professor İlber Ortaylı, a historian, on the other hand, felt it was misguided to read such far-reaching significance into the meeting. “They are going to congratulate [Pope Francis’ installation]; it shouldn’t be exaggerated.”
Meanwhile Turkey’s ambassador to the Vatican, Kenan Gürsoy, said they had observed a high degree of respect toward Bartholomew.
“We learned that esteemed Ateşyan will also be present. His visit is crucial for the representation of our country’s diversity,” Gürsoy said.
When asked for his views on the meeting, Gürsoy said it would be more appropriate to leave the comments to historians and experts on the subject.
March/19/2013
14 Mart 2013 Perşembe
Syriacs ‘common value’ for Turkey and Sweden
ISTANBUL/Vercihan Ziflioğlu
Syriacs who live in Sweden and have had roots in the geography of Turkey for centuries are a common denominator between Ankara and Stockholm, Turkish President Abdullah Gül said yesterday in his address to the Swedish Parliament.
“We consider religious minorities who are the children of our country as part of our diversity,” Gül said, while praising the Turkish government’s “sincere efforts” on Syriacs. “We are working sincerely to further improve the conditions for the Syriac community in Turkey.”
Rally outside Parliament
Outside Parliament, a group of 400 Turkish origin Syriacs who live in Sweden gathered to stage a protest against the president as he was making the address. Özcan Koldoyo, the spokesperson of the Sweden-based Assyrian Chaldean Syriac Association (ACSA), slammed President Gül’s speech, saying they had been “waiting for the return of their rights for almost 180 years.”
“We never accept Gül’s kind remarks,” Koldoyo said. Stressing that Syriacs were considered “intruders” in the Mor Gabriel Monastery in the southeastern province of Mardin and that there
were still some expressions of hostility against Syriacs in school textbooks, Koldoyo said they “did not believe in the government’s good intentions.”
Koldoyo also criticized Istanbul Metropolitan Yusuf Çetin’s joining of the Turkish delegation visiting Sweden. “A group of our friends met with him and we clearly told him that he was not welcome. We don’t respect him in any way and he can’t represent us in that way,” he said.
March/14/2013
ISTANBUL/Vercihan Ziflioğlu
Syriacs who live in Sweden and have had roots in the geography of Turkey for centuries are a common denominator between Ankara and Stockholm, Turkish President Abdullah Gül said yesterday in his address to the Swedish Parliament.
“We consider religious minorities who are the children of our country as part of our diversity,” Gül said, while praising the Turkish government’s “sincere efforts” on Syriacs. “We are working sincerely to further improve the conditions for the Syriac community in Turkey.”
Rally outside Parliament
Outside Parliament, a group of 400 Turkish origin Syriacs who live in Sweden gathered to stage a protest against the president as he was making the address. Özcan Koldoyo, the spokesperson of the Sweden-based Assyrian Chaldean Syriac Association (ACSA), slammed President Gül’s speech, saying they had been “waiting for the return of their rights for almost 180 years.”
“We never accept Gül’s kind remarks,” Koldoyo said. Stressing that Syriacs were considered “intruders” in the Mor Gabriel Monastery in the southeastern province of Mardin and that there
were still some expressions of hostility against Syriacs in school textbooks, Koldoyo said they “did not believe in the government’s good intentions.”
Koldoyo also criticized Istanbul Metropolitan Yusuf Çetin’s joining of the Turkish delegation visiting Sweden. “A group of our friends met with him and we clearly told him that he was not welcome. We don’t respect him in any way and he can’t represent us in that way,” he said.
March/14/2013
13 Mart 2013 Çarşamba
Turkish Foreign Ministry to meet Syriac leaders
ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News
Vercihan Ziflioğlu vercihan.ziflioglu@hurriyet.com.tr
The Turkish Foreign Ministry has invited four Syriac Metropolitans to a meeting that will take place in Ankara on March 18, amid growing interest in the community.
Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu is also expected to participate in the meeting, alongside Turabidin Metropolitan Samuel Aktaş, Adıyaman Metropolitan Melki Ürek, Mardin-Diyarbakır Metropolitan Saliba Özmen, and Istanbul Metropolitan Yusuf Çetin.
Adıyaman Metropolitan Melki Ürek told the Hürriyet Daily News that the Foreign Ministry had specifically called on them to attend the meeting. “President Gül and Deputy Prime Minister Arınç’s inclusion of the [Istanbul] Metropolitan in their tour was a really positive step,” Ürek said referring to the events of the previous week, during which Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç brought Istanbul Metropolitan Yusuf Çetin with him to a conference held in Berlin. Çetin also accompanied President Abdullah Gül in his visit to Sweden a few days ago.
“Any official announcement regarding the topics of discussion has not yet been made. But probably, the current situation of Syriacs who fled from the violence in Syria will be on the agenda, as well as the issue of supporting those Syriacs who seek asylum in Turkey,” Ürek said.
Some of the Syrian Syriacs heading to Turkey have taken refuge in the Deyrülzafaran Monastery, located in the southeastern province of Mardin, while those with relatives in Turkey have chosen to live with them. A high proportion of the refugees passed to a third country through Turkey. Ürek said the Foreign Ministry’s invitation was very significant for them and that they were ready to play their part.
March/13/2013
ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News
Vercihan Ziflioğlu vercihan.ziflioglu@hurriyet.com.tr
The Turkish Foreign Ministry has invited four Syriac Metropolitans to a meeting that will take place in Ankara on March 18, amid growing interest in the community.
Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu is also expected to participate in the meeting, alongside Turabidin Metropolitan Samuel Aktaş, Adıyaman Metropolitan Melki Ürek, Mardin-Diyarbakır Metropolitan Saliba Özmen, and Istanbul Metropolitan Yusuf Çetin.
Adıyaman Metropolitan Melki Ürek told the Hürriyet Daily News that the Foreign Ministry had specifically called on them to attend the meeting. “President Gül and Deputy Prime Minister Arınç’s inclusion of the [Istanbul] Metropolitan in their tour was a really positive step,” Ürek said referring to the events of the previous week, during which Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç brought Istanbul Metropolitan Yusuf Çetin with him to a conference held in Berlin. Çetin also accompanied President Abdullah Gül in his visit to Sweden a few days ago.
“Any official announcement regarding the topics of discussion has not yet been made. But probably, the current situation of Syriacs who fled from the violence in Syria will be on the agenda, as well as the issue of supporting those Syriacs who seek asylum in Turkey,” Ürek said.
Some of the Syrian Syriacs heading to Turkey have taken refuge in the Deyrülzafaran Monastery, located in the southeastern province of Mardin, while those with relatives in Turkey have chosen to live with them. A high proportion of the refugees passed to a third country through Turkey. Ürek said the Foreign Ministry’s invitation was very significant for them and that they were ready to play their part.
March/13/2013
12 Mart 2013 Salı
Metropolitan: Who holds Halki’s key?
ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News
Vercihan Ziflioğlu vercihan.ziflioglu@hurriyet.com.tr
Despite the government’s determination to reopen Heybeliada Island’s Halki Seminary, which has remained closed for more than 40 years, no concrete improvement has been achieved on the issue, the school’s archpriest and Metropolitan of Bursa, Professor Elpidophoros Lambriniadis, has said.
“Everyone tells each other that the school should be opened, but who holds the key [keeping it from being] opened? We have seen the determination of the government but no steps are taken,” he told the Daily News in a recent interview. Turkey’s Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç said in March during a Berlin event that the seminary should be reopened to educate clerics for the Orthodox community, saying “minorities have the same rights as us.”
Still, he criticized the Greek government for not allocating the same rights to the Turkish community living in Greece.
With the Lausanne Treaty signed in 1923, Turkey and Greece were bound to treat their respective minorities with reciprocal rights, meaning that every implementation regarding the Greek population in Turkey and the Turks in Western Thrace should correspond to each other.
Heybeliada Island’s Halki Seminary
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan offered Ankara’s help in building a mosque in Athens after meeting with his Greek counterpart, Antonis Samaras, in Doha on Jan. 29.
During the Doha talks with Samaras, Erdoğan discussed the issues of restrictions on Turks and Muslims living in Western Thrace, including freedom of worship, the establishment of associations, the right to own property and the appointment of 240 religious teachers for the community, according to Anatolia news agency.
Turkish Parliamentary Speaker Hüseyin Çelik said in 2003, when he was the education minister, that the school could be opened without requiring a change in law. Last year, Fener Greek Patriarch Bartholomew said they would go to the European Court of Human Rights if the school was not reopened.
“Our Patriarch favors solving the problem through dialogue in Turkey. But if we don’t have another alternative, we will have to take legal action,” Lambriniadis said when asked if they were planning to take such steps.
“Our Patriarch has been on duty for 22 years and he is always bringing the Halki Seminary issue to the agenda. The school has been closed for 42 years. If it is reopened, even priests from Greece will come here to get an education. It is not a thing to be underestimated,” he told the Daily News.
“When the reopening of Halki Seminary is brought to the agenda, the government implicitly or explicitly puts forward the issue of reciprocity. They even relate the new problems regarding the minorities in Greece to Halki Seminary; it is not understandable,” he said.
Renovation needed
Lambriniadis also said he was currently giving lectures in the University of Thessaloniki since he cannot teach in Halki Seminary. Last week, 75 priests from the Athens Archbishopric visited Heybeliada for a three-day seminar. Lambriniadis said they did not come across any problems regarding the seminar. He said the University of Thessaloniki completed its project regarding the restoration of the school and that they would restore the building once they could receive the authorizations and find a fund.
March/12/2013
ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News
Vercihan Ziflioğlu vercihan.ziflioglu@hurriyet.com.tr
Despite the government’s determination to reopen Heybeliada Island’s Halki Seminary, which has remained closed for more than 40 years, no concrete improvement has been achieved on the issue, the school’s archpriest and Metropolitan of Bursa, Professor Elpidophoros Lambriniadis, has said.
“Everyone tells each other that the school should be opened, but who holds the key [keeping it from being] opened? We have seen the determination of the government but no steps are taken,” he told the Daily News in a recent interview. Turkey’s Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç said in March during a Berlin event that the seminary should be reopened to educate clerics for the Orthodox community, saying “minorities have the same rights as us.”
Still, he criticized the Greek government for not allocating the same rights to the Turkish community living in Greece.
With the Lausanne Treaty signed in 1923, Turkey and Greece were bound to treat their respective minorities with reciprocal rights, meaning that every implementation regarding the Greek population in Turkey and the Turks in Western Thrace should correspond to each other.
Heybeliada Island’s Halki Seminary
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan offered Ankara’s help in building a mosque in Athens after meeting with his Greek counterpart, Antonis Samaras, in Doha on Jan. 29.
During the Doha talks with Samaras, Erdoğan discussed the issues of restrictions on Turks and Muslims living in Western Thrace, including freedom of worship, the establishment of associations, the right to own property and the appointment of 240 religious teachers for the community, according to Anatolia news agency.
Turkish Parliamentary Speaker Hüseyin Çelik said in 2003, when he was the education minister, that the school could be opened without requiring a change in law. Last year, Fener Greek Patriarch Bartholomew said they would go to the European Court of Human Rights if the school was not reopened.
“Our Patriarch favors solving the problem through dialogue in Turkey. But if we don’t have another alternative, we will have to take legal action,” Lambriniadis said when asked if they were planning to take such steps.
“Our Patriarch has been on duty for 22 years and he is always bringing the Halki Seminary issue to the agenda. The school has been closed for 42 years. If it is reopened, even priests from Greece will come here to get an education. It is not a thing to be underestimated,” he told the Daily News.
“When the reopening of Halki Seminary is brought to the agenda, the government implicitly or explicitly puts forward the issue of reciprocity. They even relate the new problems regarding the minorities in Greece to Halki Seminary; it is not understandable,” he said.
Renovation needed
Lambriniadis also said he was currently giving lectures in the University of Thessaloniki since he cannot teach in Halki Seminary. Last week, 75 priests from the Athens Archbishopric visited Heybeliada for a three-day seminar. Lambriniadis said they did not come across any problems regarding the seminar. He said the University of Thessaloniki completed its project regarding the restoration of the school and that they would restore the building once they could receive the authorizations and find a fund.
March/12/2013
7 Mart 2013 Perşembe
Halki seminary should be opened: Gov’t spokesman
BERLIN - Anatolia News Agency/Vercihan Ziflioğlu contributed to this report.
Heybeliada Halki Seminary should be opened and this is a humanitarian right, Deputy PM Arınç tells a Berlin conference also attended by representatives of the minorities in Turkey. Arınç says its is not a favor, also apologizing the community leaders for the things that happened in the past
Share on linkedin Greek clergy have been waiting for the reopening of Halki for years.
Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç said the Heybeliada Halki Seminary should be reopened to educate clerics for the Orthodox community, saying “minorities have the same rights as us” while speaking at a conference in Berlin on March 5, Anatolia news agency reported.
“We accept that there is a necessity for clerics in the Heybeliada Halki Seminary for the Greek Orthodox Patriarch or the Orthodox community, and a school is needed for these [clerics] to be educated. We know there are [those needs],” said Arınç, responding to a question from Germany’s Greek-Orthodox Metropolitan Augustinos Labardankis at a Berlin conference. “Therefore, this school certainly has to be opened and clerics should be educated here again,” said Arınç, during a conference titled “Muslims, Jews, Christians, Peace is Possible - Examples for Peaceful Coexistence in Past and Present - Perspectives for the Future” in Berlin.
He also said articles were being added to the Foundations Law for the return of property to minority communities. “We do not return these as a favor. These were already yours, but taken from you in some ways. We see this as a humanitarian right, a holy value of your belief. We apologize to all of you for those things that happened in the past,” Arınç said, at the conference organized by the International and Intercultural Dialogue Institute.
However, he also criticized the Greek government for not allocating the same rights to the Turkish community living in Greece, saying that associations were even banned from using the world “Turkish” in their names.
“The claims that Muslims cannot choose their mufti and that imams are nominated by the state, as well as claims that foundations cannot own property, discrimination is practiced in schools, and mosques are not allowed in certain places, are all right,” he said.
“Still, this issue is not a reciprocity issue. We should not entertain the idea that ‘If Greece does not do this then we should not do it either,’” he added. The head of the Association for the Support of Greek Community Foundations (RUMVADER), Andon Parisyanos, told the Daily News yesterday that it was incomprehensible as to how the issue had not yet been resolved in response to Arınç’s remarks.
‘Unknown reasons?’
“I do not understand why this issue cannot be resolved. It is always on the agenda, there might be unknown reasons for not opening [the Halki],” he said.
“We do not understand why the Halki Seminary issue is represented as if it is a Turkish-Greek issue, but this perception is wrong. Halki Seminary is in this land, so that it is an issue for the patriarch,” Parisyanos told the Daily News. “They [government] might be hesitating from the reactions of certain circles. Otherwise, I do not see any other problems.” Recalling the efforts of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) to solve the problems of minority communities, Parisyanos asked: “Given all these goodwill, why wouldn’t the government give Halki Seminary its old status?”
Laki Vingas, who is in charge of minority foundations in Turkey’s Foundations Directorate General, Istanbul Metropolitan Mor Filüksinos, Yusuf Çetin from the Syriac Orthodox Church, and Turkey’s Jewish Community head İshak İbrahimzadeh attended the conference. Upon a question on the cancellation of the participation of Israel’s ambassador to Germany’s in the conference, Arınç said he was sad for this situation. Yakov Hadas-Handelsman canceled his participation citing Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s comments on Zionism. Last week, Erdoğan likened Zionism to fascism in a Vienna conference.
The head of the Association for the Support of Greek Community Foundations (RUMVADER), Andon Parisyanos, told the Daily News yesterday that it was incomprehensible as to how the issue had not yet been resolved in response to Arınç’s remarks.
“I do not understand why this issue cannot be resolved. It is always on the agenda, there might be unknown reasons for not opening [the Halki],” he said.
“We do not understand why the Halki Seminary issue is represented as if it is a Turkish-Greek issue, but this perception is wrong. Halki Seminary is in this land, so that it is an issue for the patriarch,” Parisyanos told the Daily News.
“They [government] might be hesitating from the reactions of certain circles. Otherwise, I do not see any other problems.”
Recalling the efforts of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) to solve the problems of minority communities, Parisyanos asked: “Given all these goodwill, why wouldn’t the government give Halki Seminary its old status?”
March/07/2013
BERLIN - Anatolia News Agency/Vercihan Ziflioğlu contributed to this report.
Heybeliada Halki Seminary should be opened and this is a humanitarian right, Deputy PM Arınç tells a Berlin conference also attended by representatives of the minorities in Turkey. Arınç says its is not a favor, also apologizing the community leaders for the things that happened in the past
Share on linkedin Greek clergy have been waiting for the reopening of Halki for years.
Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç said the Heybeliada Halki Seminary should be reopened to educate clerics for the Orthodox community, saying “minorities have the same rights as us” while speaking at a conference in Berlin on March 5, Anatolia news agency reported.
“We accept that there is a necessity for clerics in the Heybeliada Halki Seminary for the Greek Orthodox Patriarch or the Orthodox community, and a school is needed for these [clerics] to be educated. We know there are [those needs],” said Arınç, responding to a question from Germany’s Greek-Orthodox Metropolitan Augustinos Labardankis at a Berlin conference. “Therefore, this school certainly has to be opened and clerics should be educated here again,” said Arınç, during a conference titled “Muslims, Jews, Christians, Peace is Possible - Examples for Peaceful Coexistence in Past and Present - Perspectives for the Future” in Berlin.
He also said articles were being added to the Foundations Law for the return of property to minority communities. “We do not return these as a favor. These were already yours, but taken from you in some ways. We see this as a humanitarian right, a holy value of your belief. We apologize to all of you for those things that happened in the past,” Arınç said, at the conference organized by the International and Intercultural Dialogue Institute.
However, he also criticized the Greek government for not allocating the same rights to the Turkish community living in Greece, saying that associations were even banned from using the world “Turkish” in their names.
“The claims that Muslims cannot choose their mufti and that imams are nominated by the state, as well as claims that foundations cannot own property, discrimination is practiced in schools, and mosques are not allowed in certain places, are all right,” he said.
“Still, this issue is not a reciprocity issue. We should not entertain the idea that ‘If Greece does not do this then we should not do it either,’” he added. The head of the Association for the Support of Greek Community Foundations (RUMVADER), Andon Parisyanos, told the Daily News yesterday that it was incomprehensible as to how the issue had not yet been resolved in response to Arınç’s remarks.
‘Unknown reasons?’
“I do not understand why this issue cannot be resolved. It is always on the agenda, there might be unknown reasons for not opening [the Halki],” he said.
“We do not understand why the Halki Seminary issue is represented as if it is a Turkish-Greek issue, but this perception is wrong. Halki Seminary is in this land, so that it is an issue for the patriarch,” Parisyanos told the Daily News. “They [government] might be hesitating from the reactions of certain circles. Otherwise, I do not see any other problems.” Recalling the efforts of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) to solve the problems of minority communities, Parisyanos asked: “Given all these goodwill, why wouldn’t the government give Halki Seminary its old status?”
Laki Vingas, who is in charge of minority foundations in Turkey’s Foundations Directorate General, Istanbul Metropolitan Mor Filüksinos, Yusuf Çetin from the Syriac Orthodox Church, and Turkey’s Jewish Community head İshak İbrahimzadeh attended the conference. Upon a question on the cancellation of the participation of Israel’s ambassador to Germany’s in the conference, Arınç said he was sad for this situation. Yakov Hadas-Handelsman canceled his participation citing Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s comments on Zionism. Last week, Erdoğan likened Zionism to fascism in a Vienna conference.
The head of the Association for the Support of Greek Community Foundations (RUMVADER), Andon Parisyanos, told the Daily News yesterday that it was incomprehensible as to how the issue had not yet been resolved in response to Arınç’s remarks.
“I do not understand why this issue cannot be resolved. It is always on the agenda, there might be unknown reasons for not opening [the Halki],” he said.
“We do not understand why the Halki Seminary issue is represented as if it is a Turkish-Greek issue, but this perception is wrong. Halki Seminary is in this land, so that it is an issue for the patriarch,” Parisyanos told the Daily News.
“They [government] might be hesitating from the reactions of certain circles. Otherwise, I do not see any other problems.”
Recalling the efforts of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) to solve the problems of minority communities, Parisyanos asked: “Given all these goodwill, why wouldn’t the government give Halki Seminary its old status?”
March/07/2013
Mayor, locals happy with Armenian woman murder arrest
ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News
Vercihan Ziflioğlu vercihan.ziflioglu@hurriyet.com.tr
Istanbul’s Fatih district mayor, Mustafa Demir, has expressed his satisfaction with the arrest of M. N., the sole suspect in the investigation of multiple assaults against elderly Armenian women, which resulted in one death.
“Before his arrest there were provocative and discriminative scenarios,” he told the Hürriyet Daily News in a phone interview yesterday. “But the history of these people, who have been living together in Samatya for 550 years, should not be forgotten. No matter if they are Turks, Armenians or Muslims, the fact is there is a petty crime here,” Demir said.
The 38-year-old suspect, who is said to be a Turkish citizen of Armenian origin, was detained March 4. An Istanbul judge later ruled to arrest the suspect.
Demir also said that because the assaulted were all elderly women living alone, it is safe to say the victims were targeted for their vulnerability rather than for their identities. “First of all, as Fatih mayor, I am happy about the arrest of the suspect. Also, I would like to thank Samatya Surp Kevork Church authorities for their calm attitude,” he said.
On Dec. 28, 2012, Maritsa Küçük was stabbed seven times before her throat was slit in her home in Samatya. Two other attacks were carried out in the same month against elderly Armenian women in the Samatya and Bakırköy districts as well. One of the women, 87-year-old Turfanda Aşık, lost an eye, while another was robbed and severely injured. 84-year-old Sultan Akyar was attacked in Samatya and needed eye surgery.
Leading figures of the Armenian community told the Daily News the suspect was not known among the community.
Aşık’s grand daughter-in-law Arev Cebeci said they were following the developments closely.
“At least it seems that the assaults were not race crimes. The suspect is an Armenian who converted to Islam. It is being said that he lives in Samatya and receives aids from the church, but such information does not exist in church records,” Cebeci said. However, he said he still had doubts. “They said it was a robbery attempt but he stole only jewelry that did not have [much] material value,” Cebeci said. Arsen Arşık, a former academic from Boğaziçi University and an acquaintance of two of the victims, called on the public not to regard the attacks as hate crimes.
M.N. was previously convicted of theft on two separate accounts, reports said. He had been staying on the basement floor of a hostel in a nearby neighborhood when he was caught by police.
March/06/2013
ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News
Vercihan Ziflioğlu vercihan.ziflioglu@hurriyet.com.tr
Istanbul’s Fatih district mayor, Mustafa Demir, has expressed his satisfaction with the arrest of M. N., the sole suspect in the investigation of multiple assaults against elderly Armenian women, which resulted in one death.
“Before his arrest there were provocative and discriminative scenarios,” he told the Hürriyet Daily News in a phone interview yesterday. “But the history of these people, who have been living together in Samatya for 550 years, should not be forgotten. No matter if they are Turks, Armenians or Muslims, the fact is there is a petty crime here,” Demir said.
The 38-year-old suspect, who is said to be a Turkish citizen of Armenian origin, was detained March 4. An Istanbul judge later ruled to arrest the suspect.
Demir also said that because the assaulted were all elderly women living alone, it is safe to say the victims were targeted for their vulnerability rather than for their identities. “First of all, as Fatih mayor, I am happy about the arrest of the suspect. Also, I would like to thank Samatya Surp Kevork Church authorities for their calm attitude,” he said.
On Dec. 28, 2012, Maritsa Küçük was stabbed seven times before her throat was slit in her home in Samatya. Two other attacks were carried out in the same month against elderly Armenian women in the Samatya and Bakırköy districts as well. One of the women, 87-year-old Turfanda Aşık, lost an eye, while another was robbed and severely injured. 84-year-old Sultan Akyar was attacked in Samatya and needed eye surgery.
Leading figures of the Armenian community told the Daily News the suspect was not known among the community.
Aşık’s grand daughter-in-law Arev Cebeci said they were following the developments closely.
“At least it seems that the assaults were not race crimes. The suspect is an Armenian who converted to Islam. It is being said that he lives in Samatya and receives aids from the church, but such information does not exist in church records,” Cebeci said. However, he said he still had doubts. “They said it was a robbery attempt but he stole only jewelry that did not have [much] material value,” Cebeci said. Arsen Arşık, a former academic from Boğaziçi University and an acquaintance of two of the victims, called on the public not to regard the attacks as hate crimes.
M.N. was previously convicted of theft on two separate accounts, reports said. He had been staying on the basement floor of a hostel in a nearby neighborhood when he was caught by police.
March/06/2013
5 Mart 2013 Salı
Malatya massacre’s widow awaiting Turkish citizenship
ISTANBUL- Hürriyet Daily News
Vercihan Ziflioğlu vercihan.ziflioglu@hurriyet.com.tr
Suzanne Geske, the widow of Tillmann Geske, who was killed in the 2007 Malatya Zirve Publishing House massacre, has applied for Turkish citizenship a second time after first being refused a passport.
Geske told the Hürriyet Daily News that she made the second application 10 months but had yet to receive a response.
“Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan once said they wanted the Germans in Turkey to acquire Turkish citizenship. Now, I and my children want to be citizens. We have been living here for 16 years, and one of my children was born here. Why can’t we benefit from such a right?” Geske said.
Geske’s citizenship application was discussed during talks in Ankara on Feb. 25, in which German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Erdoğan met with various spiritual leaders.
Three missionaries, including Tillman Geske and two Turks, Necati Aydın and Uğur Yüksel, were tied up and tortured before their throats were slit at the Zirve Publishing House, a Christian publisher in the eastern province of Malatya, on April 18, 2007.
Geske and her three children have remained in the eastern province despite the events.
When asked whether they had considered leaving Turkey after the murders, she said: “We have been living here for years. When we first came here, one of my children was 3 years old, while the other was 11. My third child was born here in [the southern province of] Adana. We have lived a life here. And all of our friends and acquaintances are here. Returning [to Germany] does not make any sense to us after all these years, and my children did not want to leave, either.”
Geske has meanwhile not demanded any protection despite the targeted killings.
Geske said she was not worried about her safety, noting that she was guarded only at the trials for obligatory reasons. “Since I strongly believe in God, I think that only God could protect me and my children. If God wishes, he will take me by his side, so I’m not afraid.”
‘A planned murder’
Geske also said her husband did not work at the Zirve Publishing House and that he was there by coincidence on the day of the massacre.
“We knew that Zirve was being threatened; but still, we did not expect such an incident. It was a planned murder since [some] wanted to create chaos within the country,” Geske said.
“The Zirve massacre and the murders of Father [Andrea] Santoro, Hrant Dink and Father [Luigi] Padovese were all committed for the same reason. All these murders are interrelated; I believe the facts lying behind the murders will gradually come to light,” Geske said.
Santoro was murdered in Trabzon in 2006, while the Armenian-Turkish journalist Dink was gunned down in 2007. Padovese, meanwhile, was killed in the southern district of İskenderun in 2010.
Geske said she regretted the fact that the murders were called “missionary murders.” “In Turkey, being a missionary is seen very differently. It was regarded as a threat factor. And I am strictly against this view.”
Geske also said extending the Zirve case over a longer period of time would lead to better results.
“I believe that the judge hearing the case is a just person. I am not worried over the extension of the trial; contrarily, this would help to unveil deeper connections,” Geske said.
Five young men, age 19 and 20 at the time of the killings, confessed to the murder and were arrested for the crime. However, authorities have continued to investigate the case, which is believed by many to be an act of the “deep state,” rather than a group of independent fanatics.
Geske said that when her husband was murdered, their children were 13, 10, and 8 years old.
“My elder son was aware of the incidents; he had problems after his father’s murder. As a single mother, the responsibility of raising three adolescent children is a heavy burden on my shoulders. Each day, I beg God for help. I am taking shelter in the Holy Bible and its might,” Geske said.
March/05/2013
ISTANBUL- Hürriyet Daily News
Vercihan Ziflioğlu vercihan.ziflioglu@hurriyet.com.tr
Suzanne Geske, the widow of Tillmann Geske, who was killed in the 2007 Malatya Zirve Publishing House massacre, has applied for Turkish citizenship a second time after first being refused a passport.
Geske told the Hürriyet Daily News that she made the second application 10 months but had yet to receive a response.
“Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan once said they wanted the Germans in Turkey to acquire Turkish citizenship. Now, I and my children want to be citizens. We have been living here for 16 years, and one of my children was born here. Why can’t we benefit from such a right?” Geske said.
Geske’s citizenship application was discussed during talks in Ankara on Feb. 25, in which German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Erdoğan met with various spiritual leaders.
Three missionaries, including Tillman Geske and two Turks, Necati Aydın and Uğur Yüksel, were tied up and tortured before their throats were slit at the Zirve Publishing House, a Christian publisher in the eastern province of Malatya, on April 18, 2007.
Geske and her three children have remained in the eastern province despite the events.
When asked whether they had considered leaving Turkey after the murders, she said: “We have been living here for years. When we first came here, one of my children was 3 years old, while the other was 11. My third child was born here in [the southern province of] Adana. We have lived a life here. And all of our friends and acquaintances are here. Returning [to Germany] does not make any sense to us after all these years, and my children did not want to leave, either.”
Geske has meanwhile not demanded any protection despite the targeted killings.
Geske said she was not worried about her safety, noting that she was guarded only at the trials for obligatory reasons. “Since I strongly believe in God, I think that only God could protect me and my children. If God wishes, he will take me by his side, so I’m not afraid.”
‘A planned murder’
Geske also said her husband did not work at the Zirve Publishing House and that he was there by coincidence on the day of the massacre.
“We knew that Zirve was being threatened; but still, we did not expect such an incident. It was a planned murder since [some] wanted to create chaos within the country,” Geske said.
“The Zirve massacre and the murders of Father [Andrea] Santoro, Hrant Dink and Father [Luigi] Padovese were all committed for the same reason. All these murders are interrelated; I believe the facts lying behind the murders will gradually come to light,” Geske said.
Santoro was murdered in Trabzon in 2006, while the Armenian-Turkish journalist Dink was gunned down in 2007. Padovese, meanwhile, was killed in the southern district of İskenderun in 2010.
Geske said she regretted the fact that the murders were called “missionary murders.” “In Turkey, being a missionary is seen very differently. It was regarded as a threat factor. And I am strictly against this view.”
Geske also said extending the Zirve case over a longer period of time would lead to better results.
“I believe that the judge hearing the case is a just person. I am not worried over the extension of the trial; contrarily, this would help to unveil deeper connections,” Geske said.
Five young men, age 19 and 20 at the time of the killings, confessed to the murder and were arrested for the crime. However, authorities have continued to investigate the case, which is believed by many to be an act of the “deep state,” rather than a group of independent fanatics.
Geske said that when her husband was murdered, their children were 13, 10, and 8 years old.
“My elder son was aware of the incidents; he had problems after his father’s murder. As a single mother, the responsibility of raising three adolescent children is a heavy burden on my shoulders. Each day, I beg God for help. I am taking shelter in the Holy Bible and its might,” Geske said.
March/05/2013
Malatya massacre’s widow awaiting Turkish citizenship
ISTANBUL- Hürriyet Daily News
Vercihan Ziflioğlu vercihan.ziflioglu@hurriyet.com.tr
Suzanne Geske, the widow of Tillmann Geske, who was killed in the 2007 Malatya Zirve Publishing House massacre, has applied for Turkish citizenship a second time after first being refused a passport.
Geske told the Hürriyet Daily News that she made the second application 10 months but had yet to receive a response.
“Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan once said they wanted the Germans in Turkey to acquire Turkish citizenship. Now, I and my children want to be citizens. We have been living here for 16 years, and one of my children was born here. Why can’t we benefit from such a right?” Geske said.
Geske’s citizenship application was discussed during talks in Ankara on Feb. 25, in which German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Erdoğan met with various spiritual leaders.
Three missionaries, including Tillman Geske and two Turks, Necati Aydın and Uğur Yüksel, were tied up and tortured before their throats were slit at the Zirve Publishing House, a Christian publisher in the eastern province of Malatya, on April 18, 2007.
Geske and her three children have remained in the eastern province despite the events.
When asked whether they had considered leaving Turkey after the murders, she said: “We have been living here for years. When we first came here, one of my children was 3 years old, while the other was 11. My third child was born here in [the southern province of] Adana. We have lived a life here. And all of our friends and acquaintances are here. Returning [to Germany] does not make any sense to us after all these years, and my children did not want to leave, either.”
Geske has meanwhile not demanded any protection despite the targeted killings.
Geske said she was not worried about her safety, noting that she was guarded only at the trials for obligatory reasons. “Since I strongly believe in God, I think that only God could protect me and my children. If God wishes, he will take me by his side, so I’m not afraid.”
‘A planned murder’
Geske also said her husband did not work at the Zirve Publishing House and that he was there by coincidence on the day of the massacre.
“We knew that Zirve was being threatened; but still, we did not expect such an incident. It was a planned murder since [some] wanted to create chaos within the country,” Geske said.
“The Zirve massacre and the murders of Father [Andrea] Santoro, Hrant Dink and Father [Luigi] Padovese were all committed for the same reason. All these murders are interrelated; I believe the facts lying behind the murders will gradually come to light,” Geske said.
Santoro was murdered in Trabzon in 2006, while the Armenian-Turkish journalist Dink was gunned down in 2007. Padovese, meanwhile, was killed in the southern district of İskenderun in 2010.
Geske said she regretted the fact that the murders were called “missionary murders.” “In Turkey, being a missionary is seen very differently. It was regarded as a threat factor. And I am strictly against this view.”
Geske also said extending the Zirve case over a longer period of time would lead to better results.
“I believe that the judge hearing the case is a just person. I am not worried over the extension of the trial; contrarily, this would help to unveil deeper connections,” Geske said.
Five young men, age 19 and 20 at the time of the killings, confessed to the murder and were arrested for the crime. However, authorities have continued to investigate the case, which is believed by many to be an act of the “deep state,” rather than a group of independent fanatics.
Geske said that when her husband was murdered, their children were 13, 10, and 8 years old.
“My elder son was aware of the incidents; he had problems after his father’s murder. As a single mother, the responsibility of raising three adolescent children is a heavy burden on my shoulders. Each day, I beg God for help. I am taking shelter in the Holy Bible and its might,” Geske said.
March/05/2013
ISTANBUL- Hürriyet Daily News
Vercihan Ziflioğlu vercihan.ziflioglu@hurriyet.com.tr
Suzanne Geske, the widow of Tillmann Geske, who was killed in the 2007 Malatya Zirve Publishing House massacre, has applied for Turkish citizenship a second time after first being refused a passport.
Geske told the Hürriyet Daily News that she made the second application 10 months but had yet to receive a response.
“Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan once said they wanted the Germans in Turkey to acquire Turkish citizenship. Now, I and my children want to be citizens. We have been living here for 16 years, and one of my children was born here. Why can’t we benefit from such a right?” Geske said.
Geske’s citizenship application was discussed during talks in Ankara on Feb. 25, in which German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Erdoğan met with various spiritual leaders.
Three missionaries, including Tillman Geske and two Turks, Necati Aydın and Uğur Yüksel, were tied up and tortured before their throats were slit at the Zirve Publishing House, a Christian publisher in the eastern province of Malatya, on April 18, 2007.
Geske and her three children have remained in the eastern province despite the events.
When asked whether they had considered leaving Turkey after the murders, she said: “We have been living here for years. When we first came here, one of my children was 3 years old, while the other was 11. My third child was born here in [the southern province of] Adana. We have lived a life here. And all of our friends and acquaintances are here. Returning [to Germany] does not make any sense to us after all these years, and my children did not want to leave, either.”
Geske has meanwhile not demanded any protection despite the targeted killings.
Geske said she was not worried about her safety, noting that she was guarded only at the trials for obligatory reasons. “Since I strongly believe in God, I think that only God could protect me and my children. If God wishes, he will take me by his side, so I’m not afraid.”
‘A planned murder’
Geske also said her husband did not work at the Zirve Publishing House and that he was there by coincidence on the day of the massacre.
“We knew that Zirve was being threatened; but still, we did not expect such an incident. It was a planned murder since [some] wanted to create chaos within the country,” Geske said.
“The Zirve massacre and the murders of Father [Andrea] Santoro, Hrant Dink and Father [Luigi] Padovese were all committed for the same reason. All these murders are interrelated; I believe the facts lying behind the murders will gradually come to light,” Geske said.
Santoro was murdered in Trabzon in 2006, while the Armenian-Turkish journalist Dink was gunned down in 2007. Padovese, meanwhile, was killed in the southern district of İskenderun in 2010.
Geske said she regretted the fact that the murders were called “missionary murders.” “In Turkey, being a missionary is seen very differently. It was regarded as a threat factor. And I am strictly against this view.”
Geske also said extending the Zirve case over a longer period of time would lead to better results.
“I believe that the judge hearing the case is a just person. I am not worried over the extension of the trial; contrarily, this would help to unveil deeper connections,” Geske said.
Five young men, age 19 and 20 at the time of the killings, confessed to the murder and were arrested for the crime. However, authorities have continued to investigate the case, which is believed by many to be an act of the “deep state,” rather than a group of independent fanatics.
Geske said that when her husband was murdered, their children were 13, 10, and 8 years old.
“My elder son was aware of the incidents; he had problems after his father’s murder. As a single mother, the responsibility of raising three adolescent children is a heavy burden on my shoulders. Each day, I beg God for help. I am taking shelter in the Holy Bible and its might,” Geske said.
March/05/2013
Religions will discuss peace in German capital
ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News
Vercihan Ziflioğlu vercihan.ziflioglu@hurriyet.com.tr
The Inter Dialogue Institute is preparing to host representatives from a number of countries, including a Turkish mission headed by Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç, in an event in Berlin titled “Muslims, Jews, Christians, Peace is Possible - Examples for Peaceful Coexistence in Past and Present - Perspectives for the Future.”
Arınç is to visit the German capitol on March 4 with representatives of minority communities in Turkey. Along with religious minority representatives from many counties, ambassadors, journalists and clergymen, representatives of non-governmental organizations will attend the conference.
Forming dialogue platform
Laki Vingas, who is in charge of minority foundations in Turkey’s Foundations Directorate General, will attend the event as a representative of minority communities living in Turkey. Vingas said he was thankful to Arınç for inviting him to the event, adding that he appreciated the efforts to form a platform of dialogue.
Vingas also said the location of the event, Berlin, has symbolic value for this organization. “In a city that experienced the fall of walls, we will give up our prejudices and search for solutions through dialogue. Unfortunately, the struggles have not yet yielded results since theories could not be put into practice. It is necessary to show more effort in practices,” Vingas said.
“It should be underlined that religions and cultures do not conflict with each other, but rather form a parallelism; and educational systems should be formed in consideration of this,” he said. Others who are to join the conference as Arınç’s guests include Istanbul Metropolitan Mor Filüksinos, Yusuf Çetin from the Syriac Orthodox Church and Istanbul’s Syriac Saint Virgin Mary Church Foundation head Sait Susin.
“We gladly welcomed the invitation. Our Metropolitan will also make a speech [during the event]. An atmosphere of dialogue is being established in our country and it is crucial to improve this atmosphere,” Susin said.
Meanwhile, Turkey’s Armenians Acting Patriarch Archbishop Aram Ateşyan said a representative from the Armenian community would not be present at the event.
March/02/2013
ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News
Vercihan Ziflioğlu vercihan.ziflioglu@hurriyet.com.tr
The Inter Dialogue Institute is preparing to host representatives from a number of countries, including a Turkish mission headed by Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç, in an event in Berlin titled “Muslims, Jews, Christians, Peace is Possible - Examples for Peaceful Coexistence in Past and Present - Perspectives for the Future.”
Arınç is to visit the German capitol on March 4 with representatives of minority communities in Turkey. Along with religious minority representatives from many counties, ambassadors, journalists and clergymen, representatives of non-governmental organizations will attend the conference.
Forming dialogue platform
Laki Vingas, who is in charge of minority foundations in Turkey’s Foundations Directorate General, will attend the event as a representative of minority communities living in Turkey. Vingas said he was thankful to Arınç for inviting him to the event, adding that he appreciated the efforts to form a platform of dialogue.
Vingas also said the location of the event, Berlin, has symbolic value for this organization. “In a city that experienced the fall of walls, we will give up our prejudices and search for solutions through dialogue. Unfortunately, the struggles have not yet yielded results since theories could not be put into practice. It is necessary to show more effort in practices,” Vingas said.
“It should be underlined that religions and cultures do not conflict with each other, but rather form a parallelism; and educational systems should be formed in consideration of this,” he said. Others who are to join the conference as Arınç’s guests include Istanbul Metropolitan Mor Filüksinos, Yusuf Çetin from the Syriac Orthodox Church and Istanbul’s Syriac Saint Virgin Mary Church Foundation head Sait Susin.
“We gladly welcomed the invitation. Our Metropolitan will also make a speech [during the event]. An atmosphere of dialogue is being established in our country and it is crucial to improve this atmosphere,” Susin said.
Meanwhile, Turkey’s Armenians Acting Patriarch Archbishop Aram Ateşyan said a representative from the Armenian community would not be present at the event.
March/02/2013
Orthodox leaders to meet in Istanbul
ISTANBUL- Hürriyet Daily News
Vercihan Ziflioğlu vercihan.ziflioglu@hurriyet.com.tr
Leading Orthodox parliament members from various countries will meet in Istanbul on March 3 and 4 for a conference entitled “The Social Dimension of Monotheistic Religion.” Organized by The Inter-parliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy (IAO), established upon the initiative of the Hellenic Parliament, the conference will be held at the Hotel Renaissance Istanbul Bosphorus.
Representatives from Greece, Russia, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Poland, Egypt, Georgia, Cyprus, Sudan, and Romania will be present. Parliament Speaker Cemil Çiçek and Fener Greek Patriarch Bartholomew will open the meeting and the Russian President of the General Assembly will make the opening speech.
Bartholomew to hold ritual
The delegation will also attend a ritual held by Bartholomew on March 2.
Speaking to the Hürriyet Daily News regarding the meeting, Heybeliada Halki Seminary’s archpriest and Metropolitan of Bursa Elpidophoros Lambriniadis said organizing this meeting in Istanbul had great importance.
“[Istanbul] is the center of the Orthodox world since the Fener Greek Patriarchate is located here. The Patriarchate comes in first place both in protocol order and in the Orthodox world,” Lambriniadis said.
The Fener Greek Patriarchate is accepted as an ecumenical and universal entity by Orthodoxies all around the world; however, Turkey does not recognize its ecumenical title.
“Russia’s presence in such a meeting is a clear sign of the value given to the Fener Greek Patriarchate,” Lambriniadis said.
“Holding a meeting on monotheistic religions in a Muslim country has great importance in terms of dialogue between religions. Also, orthodox parliament members’ interest toward such a significant subject is very important,” Lambriniadis said, adding that Heybeliada Halki Seminary will host the clergymen of the Athens Archbishopric along with a series of conferences until March 6.
March/02/2013
ISTANBUL- Hürriyet Daily News
Vercihan Ziflioğlu vercihan.ziflioglu@hurriyet.com.tr
Leading Orthodox parliament members from various countries will meet in Istanbul on March 3 and 4 for a conference entitled “The Social Dimension of Monotheistic Religion.” Organized by The Inter-parliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy (IAO), established upon the initiative of the Hellenic Parliament, the conference will be held at the Hotel Renaissance Istanbul Bosphorus.
Representatives from Greece, Russia, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Poland, Egypt, Georgia, Cyprus, Sudan, and Romania will be present. Parliament Speaker Cemil Çiçek and Fener Greek Patriarch Bartholomew will open the meeting and the Russian President of the General Assembly will make the opening speech.
Bartholomew to hold ritual
The delegation will also attend a ritual held by Bartholomew on March 2.
Speaking to the Hürriyet Daily News regarding the meeting, Heybeliada Halki Seminary’s archpriest and Metropolitan of Bursa Elpidophoros Lambriniadis said organizing this meeting in Istanbul had great importance.
“[Istanbul] is the center of the Orthodox world since the Fener Greek Patriarchate is located here. The Patriarchate comes in first place both in protocol order and in the Orthodox world,” Lambriniadis said.
The Fener Greek Patriarchate is accepted as an ecumenical and universal entity by Orthodoxies all around the world; however, Turkey does not recognize its ecumenical title.
“Russia’s presence in such a meeting is a clear sign of the value given to the Fener Greek Patriarchate,” Lambriniadis said.
“Holding a meeting on monotheistic religions in a Muslim country has great importance in terms of dialogue between religions. Also, orthodox parliament members’ interest toward such a significant subject is very important,” Lambriniadis said, adding that Heybeliada Halki Seminary will host the clergymen of the Athens Archbishopric along with a series of conferences until March 6.
March/02/2013
1 Mart 2013 Cuma
Sub Categories: » HOMEPAGE / TURKEY/ RIGHTS
Friday,March 1 2013, Your time is 10:14:51
RIGHTS > Journalism a hard job for minorities
ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News
Vercihan Ziflioğlu vercihan.ziflioglu@hurriyet.com.tr
Editors-in-chief of minority newspapers in Turkey have told a visiting EU mission during an Istanbul meeting on Feb. 27 that they were facing self-censorship problems along with economic difficulties.
Present at the meeting were EU Delegation to Turkey First Counselor Michael Miller, Political Officer of the European External Action Service Sema Kılıçer and the editors-in-chief of daily Greek newspaper Apoyevmatini, Armenian dailies Marmara and Jamanag, Armenian weekly Agos, Jewish weekly Şalom, and Syriac monthly Sabro.
“Freedom of expression and press censorship in Turkey were discussed during the meeting. I spoke on the causes that lead the censorship of the minority press, underlining that minority newspapers are self-censoring themselves due to their fears,” Mihalis Vasiliadis, the editor-in-chief of daily Apoyevmatini, told the Hürriyet Daily News after the meeting.
“Another kind of censorship mechanism is the one imposed by the dominant groups of the minority communities. Since we are financially dependent on them, we cannot release critical news reports,” Vasiliadis said.
Vasiliadis also said he still did not have a state-issued “yellow press card,” although he has been a journalist for 30 years. He mentioned the problems of minority journalists with regard to holding press cards during the meeting.
“Many journalists are currently in custody. The Prime Minister says they did not have any press cards and were arrested for engaging in terrorist activities. I reminded [them during the meeting] that no one could guarantee that we wouldn’t be treated in the same way if we were arrested,” Vasiliadis said.
“The State’s Press Institution said they would release an official announcement for the minority newspapers [to obtain their press cards]. However, it hasn’t been done yet,” he added.
Meanwhile, Tuma Çelik, editor-in-chief of the monthly Sabro, said minority issues were also handled in the context of Turkey’s EU process. “I said at the meeting that we were regarded as foreigners although we are citizens of the Turkish Republic. I underlined the point that our problems should be solved not because of the EU process, but because we are citizens,” Çelik said.
March/01/2013
Friday,March 1 2013, Your time is 10:14:51
RIGHTS > Journalism a hard job for minorities
ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News
Vercihan Ziflioğlu vercihan.ziflioglu@hurriyet.com.tr
Editors-in-chief of minority newspapers in Turkey have told a visiting EU mission during an Istanbul meeting on Feb. 27 that they were facing self-censorship problems along with economic difficulties.
Present at the meeting were EU Delegation to Turkey First Counselor Michael Miller, Political Officer of the European External Action Service Sema Kılıçer and the editors-in-chief of daily Greek newspaper Apoyevmatini, Armenian dailies Marmara and Jamanag, Armenian weekly Agos, Jewish weekly Şalom, and Syriac monthly Sabro.
“Freedom of expression and press censorship in Turkey were discussed during the meeting. I spoke on the causes that lead the censorship of the minority press, underlining that minority newspapers are self-censoring themselves due to their fears,” Mihalis Vasiliadis, the editor-in-chief of daily Apoyevmatini, told the Hürriyet Daily News after the meeting.
“Another kind of censorship mechanism is the one imposed by the dominant groups of the minority communities. Since we are financially dependent on them, we cannot release critical news reports,” Vasiliadis said.
Vasiliadis also said he still did not have a state-issued “yellow press card,” although he has been a journalist for 30 years. He mentioned the problems of minority journalists with regard to holding press cards during the meeting.
“Many journalists are currently in custody. The Prime Minister says they did not have any press cards and were arrested for engaging in terrorist activities. I reminded [them during the meeting] that no one could guarantee that we wouldn’t be treated in the same way if we were arrested,” Vasiliadis said.
“The State’s Press Institution said they would release an official announcement for the minority newspapers [to obtain their press cards]. However, it hasn’t been done yet,” he added.
Meanwhile, Tuma Çelik, editor-in-chief of the monthly Sabro, said minority issues were also handled in the context of Turkey’s EU process. “I said at the meeting that we were regarded as foreigners although we are citizens of the Turkish Republic. I underlined the point that our problems should be solved not because of the EU process, but because we are citizens,” Çelik said.
March/01/2013
Armenian patriarch still under treatment
ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News
Vercihan Ziflioğlu vercihan.ziflioglu@hurriyet.com.tr
The Patriarchate has released an announcement on its official website with regard to the condition of Turkey’s Armenians patriarch, Mesrop II, who took ill with a sudden decrease in blood pressure and was immediately taken to Yedikule Surp Pırgiç Armenian Hospital’s intensive care unit last weekend.
According to the announcement, the Patriarch is recovering his health and his blood pressure has returned to its normal value. However, he will be kept under observation for a while as a precautionary measure, the announcement read.
Mesrop II has been suffering from frontal lobe dementia since 2007, when he suddenly developed the disorder. Archbishop Aram Ateşyan was appointed as a deputy Patriarch with the Interior Ministry’s initiative, to the negative reaction of the Armenian community. Holding an election for a new Patriarch was also suggested, but such an election was not realized as a new patriarch cannot be elected until the death of the current patriarch according to the traditions of the Armenian Apostolic Church.
March/01/2013
ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News
Vercihan Ziflioğlu vercihan.ziflioglu@hurriyet.com.tr
The Patriarchate has released an announcement on its official website with regard to the condition of Turkey’s Armenians patriarch, Mesrop II, who took ill with a sudden decrease in blood pressure and was immediately taken to Yedikule Surp Pırgiç Armenian Hospital’s intensive care unit last weekend.
According to the announcement, the Patriarch is recovering his health and his blood pressure has returned to its normal value. However, he will be kept under observation for a while as a precautionary measure, the announcement read.
Mesrop II has been suffering from frontal lobe dementia since 2007, when he suddenly developed the disorder. Archbishop Aram Ateşyan was appointed as a deputy Patriarch with the Interior Ministry’s initiative, to the negative reaction of the Armenian community. Holding an election for a new Patriarch was also suggested, but such an election was not realized as a new patriarch cannot be elected until the death of the current patriarch according to the traditions of the Armenian Apostolic Church.
March/01/2013
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