So, Lausanne is now 'in tatters'!

Let's take a break from the conquests abroad and look at the conquests within.

Three days ago, one of the pro-government writers wrote the following:

“Influenced by the Greek and Armenian diaspora, Westerners called Istanbul 'Constantinople' for a long time... But somehow, we don't know how, in 1953, a Canadian music group called The Four Lads sang a song titled 'Istanbul (Not Constantinople)'. This swing-style song became so popular that by 2006, there was no one who hadn't sung it. Meanwhile, it was etched into the minds of tens of millions of Westerners that Istanbul had not been Constantinople since 1453.”

The day before yesterday, in a news report titled “Who will build the school in Xanthi?” in the pro-government newspaper Yeni Şafak, it was explained that the demand of our kinsmen in Western Thrace for a new school building had turned into a never-ending saga. Let us also note that Greece closed 126 Turkish schools between 2011 and 2021.

In another news report from the day before yesterday, attention was drawn to the provocation by American politician Steve Bannon, who was described as a “confidant” of President-elect Trump during his first term. Bannon had posed wearing a t-shirt that read “Free Constantinople.”

What is the reason for us sharing these seemingly unrelated articles and news reports? Let's start with the last one, the one about Trump's confidant.

You know how some of our people are very hopeful about Trump; during his first term, the following occurred during the process of opening Hagia Sophia Mosque for worship:

According to the Treaty of Lausanne, the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, which is a Turkish institution and is only permitted to remain in Turkey on the condition that it deals with the religious affairs of our Greek citizens in Istanbul, Bozcaada, and Gökçeada, had appointed a Turkish citizen, Archbishop Elpidophoros, to the US. He met with President Trump and his Vice President Mike Pence, expressing his concerns regarding the “seizure of Hagia Sophia by the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Greek Orthodox community and its conversion into a mosque,” and asked them to take action. While Trump stated that he would “continue to intervene as necessary,” his Vice President Pence said, “Protecting religious freedoms both at home and abroad is a priority of US foreign policy. We also value the work done by the 1.5 million members of the Greek Orthodox Church in the US.”

What we are saying is; let us not be surprised if Trump, famous for his unpredictability and imbalances, one day calls Istanbul “Constantinople,” just like his “confidant.”

THE PATRIARCH'S LATEST TITLE

We have written it hundreds of times; the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew, uses the title “Ecumenical” in violation of the Treaty of Lausanne, meaning he claims to be the religious leader of 300 million Orthodox Christians worldwide.

Unfortunately, the EU, led by the US, and almost all countries in the world consider him “Ecumenical” and host him as a “head of state.” Moreover, he is now even invited to Erdoğan's Palace with the title of “Ecumenical.”

Two years ago, Devlet Bahçeli, the leader of the MHP and a partner in the People's Alliance, reacted by saying, “There is no institution or job description called 'ecumenical' in Turkey. According to the Treaty of Lausanne, while it is stipulated that the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople should not engage in political and administrative affairs and should provide spiritual service to our Greek-Orthodox citizens in our country, he cannot have any status other than being a religious official affiliated with the Fatih District Governorship.”

The Fatih District Governorship, to which the Patriarchate is affiliated, announced that “the claim of ecumenicity does not align with legal realities...”

And furthermore, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Öncü Keçeli said, “It is self-evident that there is no change in our state policy regarding the status of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.”

But Patriarch Bartholomew and the world continue to do as they please and call him “ecumenical,” and Ankara continues to watch!

Here are two recent examples:

On the 13th of the month, Bartholomew, who went to the United Arab Emirates for the “World Policy Conference” with the “ecumenical” title, was welcomed and seen off at Dubai Airport by our Consul Onur Şaylan, in addition to Greek officials. Our Ambassador Tugay Tunçer hosted a dinner in honor of Bartholomew.

These are now commonplace.

Patriarch Bartholomew also made a Christmas statement on December 20. Do you know what title he used in the statement?

“Hellenic Archbishop of Constantinople-New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch”; that is, the title of “Hellenic Archbishop of Constantinople-New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch”!

WHO CAN “REQUEST” FROM ERDOĞAN?

Let's get to the main issue.

Three days ago, the Presidency announced that Erdoğan “received the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew.” No other explanation was given. The Patriarchate, however, explained what was discussed in a long statement.

In the meeting, which lasted about half an hour, Patriarch Bartholomew “spoke about the historical ties between them and the Patriarchate of Antioch and requested support for ensuring the safety of all minorities in Syria”... He “conveyed his thanks to Erdoğan for initiating efforts for the reopening of the Halki Seminary” and “requested help in accelerating the procedures”... Likewise, the visit of Pope Francis, who will attend the First Council of Nicaea, which will celebrate its 1700th anniversary in 2025, upon the personal invitation of Bartholomew, was discussed.

Our media also used this Turkish statement titled “I. Bartholomew met with President Erdoğan,” issued by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. However, there was another statement issued by the Patriarchate on the same subject in Greek.

In both the title and content of this statement, he was referred to as “Ecumenical Patriarch,” and it was emphasized that Erdoğan “promised full support” regarding the Seminary.

Now let's interpret the details of those statements.

The expression “request” is used by people of equal status. Or a superior “requests” from a subordinate. Which Turkish citizen in the Republic of Turkey can make a “request” to Erdoğan?!

While Bartholomew was accompanied by Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon and Laki Vingas, one of the prominent figures of the Greek community, during his visit, Erdoğan was accompanied by his Chief of Staff Hasan Doğan and the Presidential Chief Advisor for Foreign Policy and Security, Ambassador Akif Çağatay Kılıç.

Why was it Chief Advisor for Foreign Policy Akif Çağatay Kılıç and not Minister of Interior Ali Yerlikaya, even though the Patriarchate is affiliated with the Fatih District Governorship?

Doesn't this picture itself mean that, contrary to Lausanne, exactly as the imperialists wanted, the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, “ecumenicity,” and the Seminary are accepted as a “foreign policy” issue?!

WHAT DOES BAHÇELİ SAY ABOUT THIS AGREEMENT?

Let's move on to the issue of the Seminary, which the AKP has promised to “open” to Greece and the US since they came to power.

Those who know, know under what conditions the imperialists want this school to be opened, and that Turkey opposes those conditions in order not to violate the Constitution and the Law on Unification of Education.

But since Erdoğan gave his “word,” they have been looking for a way to open this school for years. Nowadays, the leadership of the work is being carried out by Minister of National Education Yusuf Tekin, who has handed over almost all schools to sects and communities.

Turkey was not very aware of this; on November 5, a delegation from the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople visited Minister Tekin after “coordination with the relevant authorities.” While it was stated that the reason for the visit was “to thank both Minister Tekin and Erdoğan for their interest in the reopening of the Seminary, which has been closed for 53 years,” the following remarkable information was provided:

“The church delegation was warmly welcomed by the Minister and his team. It was confirmed that the Ecumenical Patriarchate intends to reopen the Seminary not as a seminary (similar to an Imam Hatip School) as the state had previously planned, but as a private Foundation University with two faculties. The Minister expressed his agreement with this proposal and promised to convey the Patriarchate's proposals to the President of the Republic of Turkey, along with the mutual exchange of ideas and opinions.”

The meaning of the formula in question will likely become clear in the coming days. For now, let us suffice by asking, “Is Devlet Bahçeli, the leader of the MHP and a partner in the People's Alliance, aware of this, and more importantly, does he approve of it?”

Why is Bahçeli's opinion important?

If he hasn't changed his mind on this issue as well; because he has always said the following from the very beginning until today:

“The legal and political meaning and consequences of the AKP government accepting the imposition of Greece and the EU will be as follows: The administrative and political actions of the Patriarch at the head of the Patriarchate, which is a Turkish institution, as the spiritual leader of all Orthodox Christians in the world, will be officially recognized by Turkey, the reflections of these actions in terms of Turkish domestic law and the legal consequences they will create will be accepted, the Patriarchate will gain legal personality and engage in all kinds of activities outside the framework determined in Lausanne, and thus the Treaty of Lausanne will be breached and the Patriarchate will attain a political status.”

“Not being disturbed by the definition of Ecumenical Patriarchate, attempts to open the Halki Seminary... are the building blocks of degradation.”

“It should be known that the so-called Ecumenical title of the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople is completely contrary to Lausanne, the founding treaty of our state... We are of the opinion that one must be blind not to see that the goal of capturing Istanbul by turning it into a miniature or city-state similar to the Vatican is being persistently pursued. In addition to this, the AKP and its friends are looking for opportunities to open the Halki Seminary... We will not have a homeland to give, people to sacrifice, or values to waste to those who have a church in their hearts and a mosque on their lips... We do not know 'Ecumenical,' we do not understand the Seminary; we will never fall into the trap of missionaries, dialogue-seekers, and apostles of the invisible church who find the field empty in our last homeland.”

THEN THE TERMINATION OF LAUSANNE IS NEAR

We started with the “conquest” of Syria, let's end with it.

Three days ago, a pro-government writer decreed the following:

“The arbitrary maps and borders drawn by Britain and France a century ago with the Sykes-Picot agreement have expired. Lausanne, in which Turkey was taken into the Anatolian parenthesis, is now in tatters! A new world and a new Syria are being established. The key country of this new world, the new Syria, and the new Middle East in the establishment phase is now Turkey, the heir of the Ottomans. The world looks at us this way. Those who look at us see this imperial spirit in Turkey.”

Since they lost what they had while chasing after something else, it means that the termination of Lausanne, which has already been riddled with holes, is near!..

Müyesser YILDIZ
December 29, 2024