Tweet
Patriarch voices concern over foundations bill
The New Anatolian, Turkey
Oct 20 2006
The New Anatolian/ Ankara
The Armenian patriarch yesterday sent three letters to top Turkish
officials expressing his concerns about the recent controversial
foundations bill.
Armenian Patriarch in Turkey Mesrob II yesterday sent letters to
Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan
and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, expressing his concerns over the
foundations bill, arguing that the bill would exacerbate long-rooted
problems.
Mesrob II, in a letter, also argued that the bill is a violation of
the principle of equality in the Constitution and described it as
technically flawed.
Stating that he has met with state officials on the issue, the
patriarch said they concluded that it would be useful if their opinions
on foundations bill were examined.
In his letter, Mesrob II said that the bill was approved by the
commission and sent to the Parliament floor before they were able to
express their opinions.
Mesrob II said Armenians have no demand other than equal citizenship.
"For this reason the evaluation of our rights within the context of
reciprocity and being treated as foreigners have deeply saddened us,"
wrote Mesrob II.
"We are citizens of this country and we think there is nothing more
natural than expressing our problems to you and the Parliament,"
said Mesrob II, arguing the recent bill is a violation of principle
of equality.
In another letter to President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Mesrob II expressed
his concerns about the private education institutions bill.
The patriarch asked the president to veto a clause in Article 5 of
the bill.
Mesrob II said they welcome the recent legal reforms regarding
religious minorities on the way towards democratization.
The patriarch said the bill on private education institutions also
interests Armenians since the bill covers Armenian schools.
As in his letter to Arinc, Erdogan and Gul, Mesrob II said the
principle of reciprocity shouldn't be applied in this bill too and
asked the president to veto a clause in Article 5 of the bill.
President Sezer previously vetoed some articles of the bill and sent
it back to Parliament for re-debate.
The New Anatolian, Turkey
Oct 20 2006
The New Anatolian/ Ankara
The Armenian patriarch yesterday sent three letters to top Turkish
officials expressing his concerns about the recent controversial
foundations bill.
Armenian Patriarch in Turkey Mesrob II yesterday sent letters to
Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan
and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, expressing his concerns over the
foundations bill, arguing that the bill would exacerbate long-rooted
problems.
Mesrob II, in a letter, also argued that the bill is a violation of
the principle of equality in the Constitution and described it as
technically flawed.
Stating that he has met with state officials on the issue, the
patriarch said they concluded that it would be useful if their opinions
on foundations bill were examined.
In his letter, Mesrob II said that the bill was approved by the
commission and sent to the Parliament floor before they were able to
express their opinions.
Mesrob II said Armenians have no demand other than equal citizenship.
"For this reason the evaluation of our rights within the context of
reciprocity and being treated as foreigners have deeply saddened us,"
wrote Mesrob II.
"We are citizens of this country and we think there is nothing more
natural than expressing our problems to you and the Parliament,"
said Mesrob II, arguing the recent bill is a violation of principle
of equality.
In another letter to President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Mesrob II expressed
his concerns about the private education institutions bill.
The patriarch asked the president to veto a clause in Article 5 of
the bill.
Mesrob II said they welcome the recent legal reforms regarding
religious minorities on the way towards democratization.
The patriarch said the bill on private education institutions also
interests Armenians since the bill covers Armenian schools.
As in his letter to Arinc, Erdogan and Gul, Mesrob II said the
principle of reciprocity shouldn't be applied in this bill too and
asked the president to veto a clause in Article 5 of the bill.
President Sezer previously vetoed some articles of the bill and sent
it back to Parliament for re-debate.