Tweet
Christine Melkonyan: Resolution urging Turkey to return confiscated
church properties has good chances to pass at the Congress
22.06.2011 19:29
Karen Ghazaryan
`Radiolur'
The Resolution urging the Republic of Turkey to safeguard its
Christian heritage and to return confiscated church properties has
good chances to pass at the UN Congress, expert of Turkish studies
Christine Melkonyan told a press conference today.
The bill submitted by Ed Royce (R-CA) and Howard Berman urges Turkey
to "allow the rightful church and lay owners of Christian church
properties," without hindrance or restriction; to organize and
administer prayer services; conduct religious education and clerical
training; and preserve, reconstruct and repair all Christian churches
and other places of worship. The legislation also calls on Turkey to
"return to their rightful owners all Christian churches and other
places of worship, monasteries, schools, hospitals, monuments, relics,
holy sites, and other religious properties, including movable
properties, such as artwork, manuscripts, vestments, vessels, and
other artifacts."
Why was the bill submitted at this point? `The matter is that the West
was waiting for the outcome of the parliamentary elections in Turkey.
The ruling party, which has great aspirations to become a leading
country in the region, won a landslide victory in the elections.
Western experts have expressed concern in this regard,' she said.
Tension will again increase in American-Turkish relations because of
the Resolution, the expert predicts. At the same time, Turkey will be
trying to exert pressure on the US to prevent the passage of the bill.
church properties has good chances to pass at the Congress
22.06.2011 19:29
Karen Ghazaryan
`Radiolur'
The Resolution urging the Republic of Turkey to safeguard its
Christian heritage and to return confiscated church properties has
good chances to pass at the UN Congress, expert of Turkish studies
Christine Melkonyan told a press conference today.
The bill submitted by Ed Royce (R-CA) and Howard Berman urges Turkey
to "allow the rightful church and lay owners of Christian church
properties," without hindrance or restriction; to organize and
administer prayer services; conduct religious education and clerical
training; and preserve, reconstruct and repair all Christian churches
and other places of worship. The legislation also calls on Turkey to
"return to their rightful owners all Christian churches and other
places of worship, monasteries, schools, hospitals, monuments, relics,
holy sites, and other religious properties, including movable
properties, such as artwork, manuscripts, vestments, vessels, and
other artifacts."
Why was the bill submitted at this point? `The matter is that the West
was waiting for the outcome of the parliamentary elections in Turkey.
The ruling party, which has great aspirations to become a leading
country in the region, won a landslide victory in the elections.
Western experts have expressed concern in this regard,' she said.
Tension will again increase in American-Turkish relations because of
the Resolution, the expert predicts. At the same time, Turkey will be
trying to exert pressure on the US to prevent the passage of the bill.