For and against” “” “

The priorities of the sixth months’ Dutch Presidency of the European Council, which began on 1st July, include that of deciding on the membership applications submitted by Croatia and Turkey. Turkey has already obtained reassurances from the European Council on 18 June about the beginning of its EU membership negotiations, even if no date for entry has yet been fixed. Misgivings about the possible Turkish entry into the EU, on the other hand, have recently been expressed by the Patriarchate of Moscow: “the participation of Turkey in the EU is impossible without the existing contradictions between Turkey and the European states first having been resolved. And this is impossible if the injuries and offences they have inflicted on each other are not first acknowledged, and without a revision of past history and of the steps to be taken towards reconciliation and cooperation”. SIR has asked Msgr. Georges Marovitch , spokesman of the Turkish Bishops’ Conference, for his opinion. After EU enlargement, Turkey, a moderate Islamic country, is pressing to enter Europe. Do you consider this entry possible? “All Turkey’s non-Moslem communities are favourable to the country’s membership of the EU. And they all clearly support the considerable efforts being made by the government to achieve the standards of democracy laid down by the EU, without drawing any distinction between its citizens”. What could Turkey give to Europe, also in the fight against terrorism? “Turkey is unique among Islamic countries in having a centuries-old experience of cohabitation with different religions. This seems to me a great advantage. Nor should we forget that Turkey herself has suffered from the scourge of terrorism for many years. She could place all her experience in this field at the disposal of the EU”. What would Europe gain by denying entry to Turkey? “Some 15 million Muslims, of whom 5 million Turks, are already living in Europe. Turkey’s possible accession would increase that percentage, but I don’t think that would cause particular problems. On the contrary…”. On the contrary? “I think that by denying membership to Turkey we would run the risk of letting the country fall into the hands of Islamic fundamentalists and extremists”. What advantages would be drawn from Turkey’s membership of the EU by the religious minorities, such as the Catholic Church? “As far as the Catholic Church in Turkey is concerned, what most concerns the bishops is the irreversible loss of properties acquired before the birth of the Republic. Most of these properties, registered in the name of religious congregations or of their superiors at the time, are not legally recognized. If the Church’s legal situation does not change, she will be deprived of any means of subsistence. The hope of a better future for the Church springs not least from the country’s desire to form part of the European Union and its determination to adapt the Constitution to the principles of respect for human rights and of the different religious confessions”. The so-called laws of ‘Adaptation’ were promulgated last year… “These are the laws concerning the properties of the Jewish, Armenian and Greek minorities. The real estate of the Latin Catholics, who are considered foreigners, cannot benefit from these new laws. The small Catholic Church in Turkey hopes, however, that the country, the cradle of Christianity, may conform to European criteria on respect for the rights of minorities. By contributing together with its inhabitants of different cultures and religions to the development and prosperity of this great country, with its rich endowment of history and traditions, our Church will support its entry into the EU, as prophesied by the Blessed Pope John XXIII who is his ‘Journal of the Soul’ wrote: “I love the Turks. I esteem the natural qualities of this people that has its rightful place in the march of civilization” (Spiritual exercises of 12-18 November 1939, Istanbul).