Turkey’s accession to the UE would be "untimely and dangerous". It was said by the archbishop of the Armenian Apostolic Church, mgr. Mesrob Krikorian, as he spoke a few days ago at Augsburg, at a meeting promoted by the German organisation Kirche in Not. The prelate’s statements were relayed by such association yesterday. From a "demographic, cultural and religious standpoint, Turkey has nothing to do with Europe", explained Krikorian who also criticised Turkey’s religious policy as "unilaterally Muslim": "it ignores the Christian Churches and Jewish communities, denying outwardly externally tolerated, but in fact they are oppressed and secretly undermined". "Greek and Armenian seminaries he said have been closed since the Seventies. The few ancient convents, churches and cemeteries are destroyed and pillaged. Authorisations are required to refurbish and use ancient churches and buildings but such formalities are so time consuming that they completely collapse". "Speaking of a genocide of Armenians is punishable", concluded Krikorian, as he recalled the tragic events that affected the Armenian population in Turkey.
