President. –

Question No 9 by Dimitrios Papadimoulis (H-0536/07)

Subject: Ecumenical nature of the Patriarchate of Constantinople

Numerous events are indicative of the Turkish authorities’ attempts to call into question the ecumenical nature of the Patriarchate of Constantinople. The Foreign Minister, for example, has expressly ruled out recognition by the Turkish Government of the ecumenical nature of the Patriarchate of Constantinople. Furthermore, Turkish officials have been prohibited from attending a reception given by the Patriarchate of Constantinople because the invitation refers to the Patriarch as ecumenical. Moreover, the new national security policy of Turkey states that ‘any attempt to overstep the current status of the Patriarchate must be deterred’ and, finally, on 26 June 2007, the Turkish Supreme Court ruled that the Patriarchate of Constantinople is not ecumenical and that the Patriarch is head of the Greek Orthodox community of Istanbul.

Will the Council say whether the position of the Turkish authorities in regard to the Patriarchate of Constantinople is consistent with the Copenhagen political criteria and Turkey’s obligations under the pre-accession process? What immediate representations will it make to the Turkish authorities?