Urging the Republic of Turkey to safeguard its Christian heritage and to return confiscated church properties.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to oppose the resolution and to claim time in opposition to the resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I have read H. Res. 306. Certainly, there is nothing in the language of this resolution that very many people would oppose. It basically says that it is the sense of the House of Representatives that the Secretary of State, in all official contacts with Turkish leaders and other Turkish officials, should emphasize that Turkey should end all forms of religious discrimination. It then goes on from there.

Now, this resolution, in a way, reminds me of asking one, Do you still beat your children? Because whatever one answers, one is going to be condemned. So the mere fact that the resolution is being introduced would leave an objective observer with the opinion that religious freedom is being systematically denied in Turkey.

Let's just look at a few of the facts. On September 13, 2011, during a briefing on the release of the U.S. Department of State's International Religious Freedom report, Secretary Clinton praised Turkey's recent steps in enhancing religious freedom. We've also seen Turkey take serious steps in improving the climate for religious tolerance. The Turkish Government issued a decree in August that invited non-Muslims to reclaim churches and synagogues that were confiscated 75 years ago.

This was the language of Secretary Clinton: I applaud Prime Minister Erdogan's very important commitment to doing so.

In its 13th annual Report on International Religious Freedom, the U.S. Department of State also underscored Turkey's recent efforts. During the reporting period, the government took steps to improve religious freedom. Notably, the government permitted religious services to be held annually at historic Christian sites that had been turned into State museums after decades of disuse.

These positive statements have shown that Turkey has good intentions in pursuing religious freedom; and I might say that, last year, the Turkish Prime Minister issued a circular that emphasized the rights of all Turkish people, Muslim and non-Muslim, to enjoy their religious cultures and identities. Prime Minister Erdogan has urged all government institutions to act in accordance with this message.

So I think it's quite clear that, while this resolution has no binding legal effect and while it has no authority over Turkey whatsoever, we can see that Turkey is taking specific steps to ensure religious freedom in its country and that it's doing so without any prodding from the U.S.

With that, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 4 minutes.

I might say that Turkey certainly has been a valuable ally of the United States for many years. As we all know, it is the only Muslim nation in NATO. It has been a vital partner to the United States in the war on terror in both Iraq and in Afghanistan. And just recently, Turkey agreed to host a NATO radar defense system directed toward Iran. Turkey also is becoming an increasingly important commercial partner.

But I wanted to also point out, about 3 years ago, without any input from the U.S. Congress, the Secretary of State, or anyone else in the Federal Government, the director of religious affairs in Turkey on his own initiation had one of his religious scholars of the Muslim faith spend a semester at Wesley Theological Seminary here in Washington, D.C. During that semester, there was a dialogue between members of the Christian faith and members of the Muslim faith. And during that time, there was not any finger-pointing. There was no accusing the other side of being mean-spirited or anything else, but it was simply an exchange of ideas. That was at the initiative of the directorate of religious affairs in Turkey.

I might also point out that in October, the archbishop of the Armenian Orthodox Church re-consecrated St. Giragos, an Armenian church near Lake Van in Turkey. That church has recently been renovated.

I would also say that on November 11, 2010, Turkish authorities returned a former orphanage on Princess Island to the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate following a decision by the European Court on Human Rights. On this occasion, the attorney representing the Patriarchate declared, ``This marks a first in Europe. Turkey became the first country to implement a decision of the ECHR by returning the property. This should be an example for other countries.''

So I think it's very clear that Turkey is moving in the right direction. They do not need to be condemned, in my view. They are a vital ally of the U.S.

With that, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I may make one other comment about Turkey. We all know that with the Arab Spring and the movement toward more free governments in the Middle East, that Prime Minister Erdogan has been one of the real leaders. He has spoken up against Syria. He has spoken up against Egypt. He has spoken against Tunisia and other countries and has been a real leader in trying to bring about a measure of freedom in that area.

I might also say that the time period that has been discussed earlier, about the early 1900s, of course during World War I when a lot of these things took place, the Ottoman Empire was fighting for its existence at that time. There were a lot of atrocities that took place on both sides.

But as I said, this resolution, there is certainly not anything in this resolution for anyone to oppose; but I think we should recognize that Turkey is making great strides, that they are returning properties, that they are taking a step, as has been pointed out by Secretary of State Clinton and by the religious watch organizations and others.

Mr. Berman had requested that I yield some time, and I would be happy to yield time.

I would be happy to yield.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I might also say that in order to ensure the future viability of the Orthodox Church, the appointment of non-Turkish citizen metropolitans to the Patriarchate's Holy Synod have been explicitly permitted in Turkey since 2004. Furthermore, in 2010, Turkey offered citizenship to metropolitans of foreign nationality who chose to apply. Additionally, issues regarding the residence permits of foreign clergy have been resolved.

I might also point out that I had mentioned earlier that the directorate of religious affairs in Turkey had made available one of the religious scholars in Turkey to conduct a seminar at Wesley Theological Seminary. I would also mention to the body that the South Korean Methodist Church has been evangelizing in parts of Turkey, and they have a church in Antakya,

which is one of the early Christian church sites that is located in Turkey, one of many, and they have been practicing their religion in Antakya.

And so I would say that I don't want people to leave here with the impression that Turkey is deliberately out there trying to deny religious freedom, because that simply is not the case. Now, maybe they have a way to go; but as I've said, there is certainly nothing in this resolution that refers to anything about a genocide. This is simply talking about religious freedom. And I wanted to simply point out the steps that Turkey has been taking and continues to take.

With that, I reserve the balance of my time.

In conclusion, I would just say and reiterate once again that, in the 13th Annual Report on International Religious Freedom, the U.S. Department of State also underscored Turkey's recent efforts during the reporting period, the government took steps, important steps, to improve religious freedom. These positive statements have replaced the status of no change in the situation regarding the religious freedom in Turkey.

With that, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 306) urging the Republic of Turkey to safeguard its Christian heritage and to return confiscated church properties, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I yield half of my time to the gentleman from California (Mr. Berman) and ask unanimous consent that he may be able to control that time.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on this resolution.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Let me begin by quoting Thomas Jefferson. He said, ``In our early struggles for liberty, religious freedom could not fail to become a primary object.''

Jefferson was a very smart man, and he understood that the core foundation of democracy relied on individual differences and opinions without fear of intimidation. This concept is one that we, as Americans, have benefited from since our founding. Religious freedom has played an integral part of our continued success as a country. Very sadly, this is a freedom that so many countries like Turkey still struggle to realize.

Today we are considering House Resolution 306, which I authored with Ranking Member Howard Berman, urging the Republic of Turkey to safeguard its Christian heritage and to return confiscated church properties to their rightful owners.

Unfortunately, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom has had to put Turkey on its watch list for 3 straight years now. The commission reports that the Turkish Government's formal, longstanding efforts to control religion by imposing suffocating regulations and by denying full legal status to religious institutions results in serious religious freedom violations. The government has failed to take decisive action to correct the climate of impunity against religious minorities and to make the necessary institutional reforms to reverse these conditions. Now, those are the words of the commission, itself, on this subject.

Religious tolerance has long been a problem for Turkey. Turkey has yet to remedy the desecration of the religious properties of over 2 million Armenians and Greeks and Assyrians and Syriacs over the last 100 years. Until these obligations are fulfilled, religious freedom will remain illusive and, frankly, relations with the United States will suffer. Prime Minister Erdogan recently issued a decree to return confiscated church properties that were taken after 1936, but the majority of confiscated religious properties, of course, were taken prior to 1936.

We are sending a signal today that Turkey should reassess the cutoff date, and I would suggest that outside pressure and actions like we are taking here today and reports like that of the religious commission have helped with what progress we have seen to date.

The United States has a vested interest to advance religious freedom. Turkey's claims of being a secular country are not enough in dealing with the day-to-day discriminatory harassment that religious minorities face there, for actions speak louder than words. There are very few religious minorities in Turkey. These are men and women struggling to practice their faiths, and they need added protection.

So this resolution urges Turkey to end all forms of religious discrimination, to allow rightful churches to organize and train and teach and practice religious activities without hindrance or restriction, and to return church properties and relics to their rightful owners--whether they be places of worship or monasteries or schools or hospitals or holy sites or other artifacts. Lastly, this resolution allows religious minority groups to own religious properties so that they can preserve and reconstruct and repair religious properties as they see fit.

Religious freedom is a fundamental human right, so I urge the passage of House Resolution 306, which urges the Republic of Turkey to safeguard its Christian heritage and to return confiscated church properties.

I reserve the balance of my time.

I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Sherman).

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time to close.

In closing, Mr. Speaker, religious freedom is a foundation necessary, I believe, for any democracy. It's a freedom we here in America can enjoy, and, frankly, it is embedded so deeply in our culture that many of us tend to take these freedoms for granted. But, unfortunately, this same scenario does not exist around this globe, and I just have to tell you, Turkey has been identified on the religious freedom watch list for 3 straight years. I wish that weren't the case, but it is.

Frankly, I believe that what progress has come comes at least in part--in part--due to this type of pressure from religious freedom reports or from resolutions. The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom allows us to gather nonpartisan information on countries that violate these fundamental human rights. And it's my understanding that in 2008 the Government of Turkey claimed they would return confiscated properties, but out of 1,400 claims, less than 100 were approved.

Now, we have close relations with Turkey. We have common interests. And this is a friendly urging that it do more on this important issue and, frankly, one that Turkey itself has committed to improving on. But, that said, with some of the statements made here today, I have to comment on an issue of which I have some personal knowledge, or memory.

When I was a young boy, I remember very well an Armenian in our community, a very elderly Armenian, who was the sole Armenian in his village to survive the Armenian genocide. And the reason he survived was because one of his neighbors hid him. And he told me the story of the atrocities that occurred there.

Now, for our Ambassador, Henry Morgenthau, who detailed what was going on while he was Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, this was not something that happened in theory. It was a genocide that cost a million and a half human lives. And the fact that even today Turkey does not acknowledge the existence of that Armenian genocide in the Ottoman Empire, I think, should still give us pause. When we're dealing with the remnants of the population of what was once a sizeable percentage of the population of that area, when we're dealing with a question of what remains, 1 percent Greek and Armenian heritage and ethnicity that remains in Turkey today, I think it is only proper that when we have this kind of report that comes back to us from the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, and it details the fact that for 3 years running, rather than make progress, we have seen backsliding, I think it is time for this body to take the position and send the message: Return that confiscated property to its rightful owners; allow that small minority that remains, that wants to practice their faith, allow them to practice their faith and allow them to continue in their schools so that the next generation that wishes to follow in that tradition can do so. That's the request here.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, as a strong supporter of religious freedom, I share the desire of many of my colleagues that our international relationships and foreign policy should reflect our values. A legacy of intolerance and violent conflict is still palpable in Turkey, decades after the upheavals and population transfers that took place as the Ottoman Empire collapsed. Greeks, Armenians, Assyrians, and others still live with this legacy, and for many decades Turkey's government failed to account for it or to take any steps to recognize it.

Yet, Turkey is undergoing profound and very hopeful changes today. The current Turkish leadership demonstrates an understanding of these changes. They are challenging entrenched, conservative orthodoxies and facing the past in ways that I believe we should encourage. That is why I cannot support the resolution before us today. It is out of step with the reality of today's Turkey, the U.S.-Turkish alliance, and the political realities in the Eastern Mediterranean.

I am concerned that H. Res. 306 would not only send the wrong signal, it would cause the deterioration of a relationship with an important ally without advancing the laudable goal of religious freedom.

The fact is, the Turkish government is moving in the right direction on this issue, and of their own accord. Prime Minister Erdogan of Turkey announced last August that his government would return hundreds of properties that were confiscated from religious minorities by the state or other parties since 1936, and would pay compensation for properties that were seized and later sold.

I don't think such a gesture should be repaid by a sense of Congress that claims that ``the Republic of Turkey has been responsible for the destruction and theft of much of the Christian heritage within its borders'' and which accuses our strongest Muslim ally of ``official and unofficial acts of discrimination, intolerance, and intimidation.'' This is a government that has fought beside our soldiers in Afghanistan, and has provided training, overflight and logistical support that have been critical to the United States in Iraq.

While we debate this resolution, we can't ignore the fact that Turkey has taken important steps forward regarding civil and political rights, and is even now developing a new constitution to reflect Turkey's diverse society and its aspirations to become a more active member of the global community. This orientation should be encouraged. The resolution before us, in my view, does nothing to encourage Turkey on that path, regardless of what its backers are claiming.

Only in the last few months, Turkey has taken some very difficult and controversial steps that support the foreign policy of the United States. Perhaps the best example, and least well-known, is in Libya. While U.S. and N.A.T.O. forces were protecting Libyan civilians from a depraved dictator, the Republic of Turkey agreed to serve as a ``protecting power'' on behalf of the United States. In that capacity they represented the United States in Libya, including acting as consular officers on behalf of U.S. citizens in Libya and looking after American diplomatic facilities in the country. They also fully supported our goal of protecting the Libyan opposition, and pledged financial and material support to NATO to bring about a free, democratic, secure, stable, and united Libya. Is this how we repay them?

Another example of Turkey's positive role in the Mediterranean region is their government's decision to host a U.S. radar warning system in the southeastern region of the country. This is a landmark agreement for the alliance. NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen called the installation a ``critical contribution'' to the Alliance's efforts to address the growing threat of proliferation. This effort is not inconsistent with Turkey's leadership on issues of international security--only last month Turkey hosted an important international security conference on Afghanistan, and Turkey continues to participate in military and civilian efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

And Turkey has also demonstrated a willingness to challenge undemocratic and despotic neighbors, despite the risk to its own economic interests. The Turkish government has imposed sanctions on the Assad regime in Syria, and erected trade barriers that will make it harder for the dictatorship to remain in place. And the Erdogan government has also distanced itself from Iran by pushing for secular, democratic governments in Egypt, Tunisia and Syria. These are not easy steps for the Turkish government to take--Iran and Syria account for much of Turkey's eastern border and a large part of its trade. But they are pushing ahead, because they share our concern for democratic values. Turkey's government is showing that there can be no real peace without moral principles.

The resolution before us seems utterly ignorant of these critical developments. I cannot

support it, despite my profound wish that Turkey fully embrace the full diversity represented within its borders. Further, I would like to see the current government of Turkey--as well as the governments of Greece and Armenia--fully and fairly recognize the enduring pain that conflict and hatred have wrought in its territory. I feel that under Prime Minister Erdogan, that process of acceptance and accountability has begun. We in the United States Congress can support a process of authentic reconciliation, and we should.

Turkey is our strong ally and friend. By shoring up our friendship, we can have discussions about the shortcomings we see in our ally. But this resolution fails to meet the basic standard of an enduring alliance, and therefore must oppose it.

Mr. Speaker, the text of House Resolution 306 could lead to false conclusions about Turkey. Make no mistake: Turkey has taken concrete steps to improve religious freedom through a series of meaningful initiatives. Moreover, Turkey is a secular, modernized NATO ally that provides indispensible military and diplomatic support to the United States and our allies. Its efforts with respect to religious inclusion are welcome and worthy of recognition.

In September, for example, Secretary Clinton praised Turkey's continued progress in enhancing religious freedom, stating:

We have also seen Turkey take serious steps to improve the

climate for religious tolerance. The Turkish government

issued a decree in August that invited non-Muslims to reclaim

churches and synagogues that were confiscated 75 years ago. I

applaud Prime Minister Erdogan's very important commitment to

doing so.

Long before H. Res. 306 was introduced, the Turkish Government was enhancing religious freedom. For example:

In May 2010, the Prime Ministry issued a circular underlining that Turkey's non-Muslim citizens share with all other Turkish citizens the right to enjoy and maintain their own identities and cultures in parallel with the national identity and culture of Turkey.

The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate in Istanbul recently has been permitted to conduct masses at religiously significant venues that had been rendered museums due to disuse.

In November 2010, Turkish authorities returned a former orphanage to the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate following a decision by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). The attorney representing the Patriarchate declared, ``This marks a first in Europe. Turkey became the first country to implement a decision of the ECHR by returning the property. This should be an example for other countries.''

Since the original text of H. Res. 306 was introduced, Turkey amended its Law on Foundations to state that immovable properties, cemeteries, and fountains (of the non-Muslim community foundations registered in the name of Turkish public institutions) will be returned to the relevant non-Muslim community foundations, upon those non-Muslim foundations' request.

On a larger scale, Turkey has been an indispensible ally and friend of the United States since it joined NATO almost 60 years ago (in 1952). Given Turkey's strategic location and maintenance of the second largest military in NATO, this should come as no surprise. Currently, NATO is installing radar systems in Turkey and Romania as part of the regional anti-ballistic missile defense system. Moreover, when NATO passed Resolution 1973, which enforced a no-fly zone in Libya, Turkey helped lead a NATO-led coalition, after playing a major role in deliberations with the United States and other key allies. Turkey also had a key role in negotiating the release of four New York Times reporters who were captured during fighting in Libya.

With regard to U.S. operations in Afghanistan, Turkey:

Has made available its Konya Air Base and other airports for the deployment of aircraft and allies' cargo aircraft in support of ISAF operations.

Has deployed five Operational Mentoring and Liaison Teams (OMLT) and has also conducted in-place training of 8,000 Afghan National Army (ANA) members and training in Turkey for an additional 1,000 Afghan troops.

Turkey established two civilian-led Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) in Wardak and Jawzjan, and opened a branch of the Turkish International Cooperation Agency in Kabul, from which it runs a number of humanitarian assistance and economic development projects.

Turkey stations over 1,700 U.S. military personnel under the U.S.- Turkey Defense and Economic Cooperation Agreement. Incirlik Air Base, which houses about 1,500 U.S. military personnel, is a transit point for 68% of air logistical support for Iraq and Afghanistan. Each year, an average of 2,000 American C-17 aircraft and an average of 1,460 KC- 135 refueling tankers fly through the Turkish air base. Turkey's support is not limited to access of its air bases; its Mersin port on the Mediterranean is part of the U.S.'s supply network to Afghanistan.

In a time when several Muslim majority countries are undergoing upheaval, Turkey provides an ideal model to its neighbors. It is a secular, modern, Muslim majority state that is a significant NATO ally. In its domestic affairs, Turkey is again a model for its neighbors. According to the State Department's 13th Annual Report on Religious Freedom,

During the reporting period, the [Turkish] government took

steps to improve religious freedom. Notably the government

permitted religious services to be held annually in historic

Christian sites that had been turned into state museums after

decades of disuse.

As a friend of Turkey, the United States ought to continue to recognize Turkey's initiatives on religious freedom and encourage Turkey to continue its progress. This is what allies do.

I do.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 306, and I yield 3 minutes to one who has been a leader in this effort for a very long time, my colleague and neighbor from California (Mr. Schiff).

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 2\1/2\ minutes.

The Christian communities of Turkey, once populous and prosperous, have now for many decades been victims of discrimination. The result has been a drastic decline in the Christian population. Whereas well over 2 million Christians lived in Anatolia a century ago, today there are only a few thousand, less than 1 percent of Turkey's population.

Although Christians clearly constitute no threat to the majority, the various Christian communities remain the victims of unceasing discrimination. Their churches have been desecrated, their properties confiscated, and they are denied the right to practice their religion as they see fit or to train their clergy. Through this resolution, we are asking that Turkey rectify this terrible situation.

Much of the worst damage to--and confiscation of--Christian properties was done in the earlier decades of the Turkish Republic, but it continues to some extent today. Some 3 months after the introduction of this resolution in June, Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan responded with a decree that would return a small percentage of the property confiscated from religious minorities as well as provide compensation for property that was seized and later sold. This is too little and too late. It doesn't even begin to make up for the years of loss and the damaging impact on the minority communities, but it does appear to be a step in the right direction. We will watch its implementation closely.

Meanwhile, the Turkish Government must also address the many other forms of discrimination that Christians in Turkey endure. Every church in Turkey suffers petty harassment, at a minimum, and is forced to apply to central authorities for authorization to do any type of repairs or construction, requests that often linger for months and years without government action. Moreover, Turkey recognizes certain Christian groups as legitimate but not others. If you belong to one of the unauthorized groups, such as Evangelicals, you can't even build a church.

This resolution calls on Turkey to make good on all past transgressions and allow true freedom of religion--to achieve the standards of democratic behavior to which it says, and to which I believe, it aspires. We want Turkey to allow its Christian citizens to worship exactly as they want and to allow them to train their clergy exactly as they want.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to add an additional 30 seconds to the gentleman from California from my allotted time.

I would be very grateful if the gentleman would yield 2 minutes to my friend from New York, a distinguished member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Mr. Engel.

I am pleased to yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone), the cochair of the Armenian Caucus.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

We want Turkey to follow through on its commitment to return confiscated property of Christian communities and to provide compensation for properties that can't be recovered. We want Christian communities in Turkey to enjoy the same rights and privileges that religious minorities enjoy in this country.

We want Turkey to acknowledge the Armenian genocide. This is not too much to ask. In fact, that is the minimum we must ask if Turkey is ever to join the ranks of the world's fully free nations.

I commend my good friend and colleague, Mr. Royce, for introducing this resolution and working with me closely on this critical issue, and I urge all my colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution.