Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2010-01-20-Speech-3-349"

Predicate	Value (sorted: default)
rdf:type	lpv_eu:Speech2
dcterms:Date	"2010-01-20"^^xsd:date2
dcterms:Is Part Of	lp_eu:Democratisation in Turkey (debate)2
dcterms:Language	"fi"^^xsd:language2
lpv:document identification number	"en.20100120.18.3-349"2
lpv:hasSubsequent	lp_eu:2010-01-20-Speech-3-3502
lpv:speaker	lp:Sari Essayah2
lpv:spokenAs	member; Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean (2009-09-16--2014-06-30)3 member; Delegation for relations with Israel (2009-09-16--2014-06-30)3 substitute; Delegation for relations with the Maghreb countries and the Arab Maghreb Union (2009-09-16--2014-06-30)3 unknown; Suomen kristillisdemokraatit (2009-07-14--2014-06-30)3 member; EMPL (2009-07-16--2012-01-18)3 member; EPP (2009-07-14--2014-06-30)3 substitute; ECON (2009-07-16--2012-01-18)3
lpv:translated text	"Madam President, Commissioner Rehn, you held a very challenging portfolio in the previous Commission, and this new role of yours cannot be very easy either. Turkey’s democratic development has recently suffered setbacks, and the Kurdish position is not the only worrying factor. The status of children and women needs improving, especially in rural areas. Turkey has been slow over the years to protect the rights of religious minorities, such as the Alawites and Christians. The position of the Patriarchate has already been mentioned here. Orthodox believers have suffered discrimination and there are probably now only around 3 000 of them in Turkey. It is a totally incomprehensible law that says that Orthodox priests, bishops and patriarchs must be Turkish citizens. A patriarch is the head of a worldwide church, so he, of course, may be elected from any member church. Similarly, there must be a guarantee of the protection of church property, and property that has been seized illegally must be returned. A list of names has been compiled here in this House with a position in writing adopted in favour of opening the clerical Seminary of Halki. The last person to appeal to have the Halki Seminary opened was President Barack Obama. If Turkey were to safeguard the human rights of the Christian minority in this way, it would set an excellent example to the other Muslim nations, encouraging them too to guarantee exactly the same rights for Christians as Christian countries do for their Muslim minorities. Commissioner, we often ask here whether Turkey is ready to join the EU. I believe that the EU should honestly ask itself whether it is actually ready to accept Turkey as a member. You also said that the journey is as important as the destination. We have to remember that Turkey’s democratic development is not as important for the EU as it is for Turkey’s own citizens. That is why it is worth continuing on this journey, even if we do not agree on the destination."@en1
lpv:videoURI	<go to Events_and_structure europarl>2

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