Patriarchate calls for more dialogue after ‘crucifixion’ row

The İstanbul-based patriarchate’s spokesman, Dositeos Anagnostopulos, said there has been a communication problem regarding the Patriarch’s words and it was because of the translation of the words of a person who thinks in Greek but speaks in Turkish.

“The patriarch had translated a Greek reference word by word in order to talk about a great suffering. There was no such reference to torture like in the Middle Ages,” Anagnostopulos said. He added that the patriarch’s words also demonstrate that people can talk freely about their hardships and this shows Turkey’s democratic standards. He also said inter-religious dialogue deserves that level of freedom as well.

Speaking in an interview with CBS’ “60 Minutes” for a story broadcast in the US on Sunday night, Patriarch Bartholomew said Turkey’s Greek Orthodox community feels they are treated as “second-class citizens” and he feels “crucified” living in Turkey.

Anagnostopulos said the patriarch’s words regarding being treated as second-class citizens in Turkey cannot be interpreted as if the Turkish people have no tolerance for Christians. “But the leaders of a society which accepts me [as a citizen] should find solutions to my problems,” he said, adding that the patriarch’s criticism was more the product of 75 years of accumulated experiences rather than a criticism of today’s Turkey.

“İsmet Pasha [Turkey’s second president after Mustafa Kemal Atatürk] and the politicians around him unfortunately sent us the message that we were not wanted here. We were only able to talk about all this after 2003. Wasn’t Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan the first leader to talk about these problems? Even if he cannot solve these problems, isn’t he going to be [recorded] in history as a person who had the courage to talk about these problems? The patriarch has the same courage as well,” he said.

Regarding Patriarch Bartholomew’s words about how the Ankara government was not finding solutions for their problems, Anagnostopulos said this was in reference to the Halki seminary, closed since 1971.

“Our patriarchate has 10 clergymen and nine of them are Greek citizens. They were not given residency permits until last year. They had to either exit the country every three months or live illegally in Turkey. They were given residency permits last year and these permits will be extended. We even hope that they will have work permits in the future. Another development is that, as a result of our Yeniköy congregations’ initiative, a cemetery which was taken away from them for 50 years was returned. These are positive developments,” Anagnostopulos added.

Ankara voices concerns

However, Patriarch Bartholomew’s remarks have led to disappointment and anger in Ankara. Turkish government spokesman Cemil Çiçek echoed Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu’s criticism of the patriarch on Monday.

At a press conference after a Cabinet meeting in Ankara, Çiçek was asked about Bartholomew’s remarks. “The foreign minister has made a statement. It is also our statement,” Çiçek said. Davutoğlu had said he wished those remarks were a “slip of the tongue.”

Çiçek said the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) has been exerting significant efforts in democratization and increasing rights and freedoms since it came to power in 2003. “It would be unfair to ignore all these [efforts],” Çiçek said. “I do not think a complaining about Turkey is appropriate.”

Çiçek also said Erdoğan had a meeting with Patriarch Bartholomew recently and discussed the government’s plans. “So demands should be discussed inside the country,” Çiçek said.