The Government Remained Silent... The More Diplomats Flailed, the Deeper They Sank!

You are aware of the scandal that took place at the Ukraine Peace Summit held in Switzerland on June 15-16.

Both Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan was there, and Bartholomew, the Archbishop of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople—a Turkish institution subordinate to the Fatih District Governorship according to the Treaty of Lausanne—was also present; Fidan spoke at the opening of the summit, and Bartholomew at the closing...

Both Turkey and the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople signed the joint declaration published at the end of the summit...

Bartholomew had attended the summit upon an official invitation from the Presidents of Switzerland and Ukraine, who addressed him with the title of "Ecumenical"...

This was the umpteenth time that the Treaty of Lausanne and the Constitution were blatantly violated.

For the first time, there was a reaction from all segments of society, but the government remained silent once again.

The task of weathering the backlash fell to Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Öncü Keçeli. Stating that Minister Hakan Fidan did not hold an "official bilateral meeting" with Bartholomew at the summit, Keçeli announced that they had requested an explanation from the summit organizers, Switzerland and Ukraine, regarding the inclusion of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople's name as a signatory to the joint declaration. On this occasion, Keçeli also noted that "there has been no change in our state policy regarding the status of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople."

Is It State Bahçeli's Anxiety?

While it was thought that the scandal had been overcome with this statement, a reaction came on Tuesday from Devlet Bahçeli, the leader of the MHP, a partner in the People's Alliance.

At his party's parliamentary group meeting, Bahçeli first criticized the summit with questions such as, "What kind of logic is it to organize a peace summit to which Russia is not invited?.. Is it not an unrealistic expectation to believe that a summit that is essentially a staged fight will be a balm for festering wounds?"

It is unknown whether these criticisms were also directed at Foreign Minister Fidan, who attended the summit, in a "I'm telling you, daughter, so that you, daughter-in-law, may understand" fashion; however, Bahçeli continued by saying, "Another unacceptable issue is that the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople was invited to the summit under the title of so-called 'Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople' and was made to sign the prepared final declaration," and stated the following:

"At the Ukraine Peace Summit, the sovereignty rights of the Republic of Turkey and the relevant provisions of the Treaty of Lausanne were deliberately ignored. The status of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople is clear. The Patriarchate is an institution that is only permitted to remain on Turkish soil to fulfill the religious needs of the Orthodox Greek minority and is subject to the laws of the Republic of Turkey. While it is administratively attached to the Fatih District Governorship, the elected Patriarch is also a Turkish citizen. There is no city called Constantinople within the borders of the Republic of Turkey; the legality and legitimacy of the title 'Ecumenical' do not exist. On the contrary, all those who claim otherwise are Byzantine sympathizers and rabid enemies of the Muslim Turkish nation. No one has the power to turn Istanbul into a second Vatican. Istanbul, the legacy of our conquest, is also the symbol of our national and spiritual honor. The restoration of the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque to its original state and its opening for Muslim worship has frightened many circles and has driven them all mad since that day. We will respond and resist those who play the 'Ecumenical' card with our tongues that praise, our hearts that give thanks, and our bodies that endure. We will never bow our heads, we will never surrender, we will never close our eyes; and we will never take a step back from defending the truth, the people, and reality."

Fidan Remained Silent, Diplomats Mobilized

It was after this outburst by Bahçeli that we saw diplomats practically mobilize again yesterday.

A high-level Foreign Ministry official or diplomatic source told certain media outlets the following:

- In fact, Turkey had conveyed all its sensitivities regarding participation in the summit to Ukraine and Switzerland, who organized the event, both before and during the summit...

- A reaction was given without delay after Turkey's sensitivities regarding participation in the summit were not taken into account...

- Ankara preferred to interpret the role of the Patriarch present at the summit within the scope of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church separating from the Russian Orthodox Church and becoming affiliated with the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople...

- The name of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople was not on the list the moment Turkey's name was added to the joint declaration. Furthermore, this was already impossible as they were an observer. The Patriarchate's name was added days after the meeting ended...

- As a result of Ankara's reaction, a new list without the Patriarchate's name was ensured to be published on Tuesday evening...

- Meanwhile, another incident occurred at the summit; Hakan Fidan was scheduled to moderate the panel on food security. However, Fidan left the summit after Israel and the Greek Cypriot Administration (GCA) were invited to the panel...

This is what is called "sinking as you struggle." Let us explain one by one.

We previously asked whether the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Fatih District Governorship was aware that Patriarch Bartholomew was officially invited to the summit by the Presidents of Switzerland and Ukraine with the title of "Ecumenical." We later learned that in the press information note regarding the invitees, which was published by the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs before the summit and still remains on the Ministry's website, it was written as "Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople."

So they were aware of all this, as they stated, "Turkey conveyed all its sensitivities regarding participation in the summit to Ukraine and Switzerland, who organized the event, both before and during the summit."

Did the Republic of Turkey choose to convey its 'sensitivities' to those two countries because it was embarrassed to tell Patriarch Bartholomew, 'Do not go'?

Let us continue; but it is claimed that 'our sensitivities were not taken into account and a reaction was given without delay'.

If our sensitivities were not taken into account, is the first and only thing to do not for Foreign Minister Fidan to decide against attending the summit?!

Along with what has been described, is the statement that 'Ankara preferred to interpret the role of the Patriarch present at the summit within the scope of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church separating from the Russian Orthodox Church and attaching itself to the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople' not a contradiction in itself, and most importantly, a permission to violate the Treaty of Lausanne?!

Furthermore, what kind of 'reacting without delay' is this; Minister Fidan and Bartholomew sat at the same table at the summit. They appeared in the family photo at the end of the summit. And even the removal of the name 'Ecumenical Patriarchate' from the joint declaration could only be achieved a week later, and even that was supposedly done!..

Why Didn't He Tell That Heroism (!) Himself?

Let us come to the story of Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan leaving the meeting, or rather the panel he was scheduled to moderate.

He allegedly left because Israel and the Greek Cypriot administration were invited. The representatives of these two countries were at the summit where Fidan was present, and as seen in the family photo taken there, they also signed the joint declaration. You are together in all of these, but you are not in the panel; very strange, isn't it?

Since such an incident occurred, why didn't Minister Fidan explain it himself? Specifically:

Minister Fidan appeared on a live broadcast on Habertürk on Monday night. Not only did he fail to mention the Patriarchate scandal, but those interviewing him also failed to think of asking about what happened in Switzerland!..

Yet, at the very least, when the host said, “Were you able to celebrate the holiday? Did you get to spend time with your family? But you had contacts in China, Russia, and Switzerland, among many other places; I don't know how the holiday went for you, I imagine it was busy,” he could have easily mentioned leaving the panel, even if he didn't want to get into the Patriarchate issue. But he settled for saying the following:

“As you know, on the first day of the holiday, there was the Ukraine Peace Summit in Switzerland. Our President had assigned me there, so I was there on the first day. I returned on the second day, and as soon as I landed, I went straight from the airport to kiss my mother's hand; because she was waiting, I couldn't not go. My siblings, my nieces and nephews, everyone was there.”

It is so obvious that the explanations provided by the diplomats regarding the Patriarchate, along with the incident of leaving the panel that was brought up alongside it, were intended to appease the reaction of Devlet Bahçeli, the leader of the MHP and partner in the People's Alliance!..

“Ecumenical Patriarchate” Was Not Removed from the List

Let us come to the “success” (!) of Ankara in having the name “Ecumenical Patriarchate” removed from the joint declaration.

We said “supposedly”;

Because, yes, it was removed from the alphabetical list, but it was added to the very end of the same list as a note stating:

“The Ecumenical Patriarchate participated in the Summit as an observer and supports the principles stated in the Joint Communiqué.”

In other words, it’s six of one, half a dozen of the other!.. Such is the power and success of Turkey!..