Steve Cohen: “As a co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Turkey and Turkish Americans, I rise to question the necessity for…”

“As a co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Turkey and Turkish Americans, I rise to question the necessity for consideration of H. Res. 306, urging the Republic of Turkey to safeguard its Christian heritage and to return confiscated church properties, especially in light of recent developments undertaken by the Turkish government. The current government of Turkey has taken steps to deal with the issue of religious properties. By amending its Law on Foundations in August 2011, Turkey's statute has been improved and expanded, providing that the ``immovable properties, cemeteries and fountains'' of non-Muslim religious entities--referred to as community foundations in Turkey--recorded in Turkey's 1936 Declaration, and ``registered in the name of Turkish public institutions,'' will be returned to the entities upon request. Additionally, provisions are made for the Turkish Treasury or the Directorate General of Foundations to compensate non-Muslim entities for properties that are currently registered in the name of third parties. Accordingly, those communities for whom the law is applicable will be able to have their properties registered in their own names, or be compensated. In addition to this great step forward, Turkey has eased its citizenship requirements for Orthodox senior clergy, and in compliance with the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights, returned to the Ecumenical Patriarchate its orphanage on the Princes' Islands.…”