Greek spiritual leader in Turkey meets lawmakers on new constitution

ANKARA (A.A) - February 20, 2012 - Spiritual leader of Turkey's Greek Orthodox community on Monday gathered with members of a Parliamentary constitutional sub-committee to convey his proposals for a new constitution. "For the first time in the Republican history minorities in Turkey receive such a formal invitation to express their mind for the drafting a new constitution. Unfortunately, injustices have been made to minorities in Turkey but they are being fixed now and a new Turkey is being born," Fener Greek Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew I told reporters after his meeting with Turkish lawmakers in capital Ankara.   Bartholomew I said he presented to the sub-committee 18-page report, which included requests of the religious minorities in Turkey from a new constitution. "We are confident that our views will be taken into account. We want a new constitution which would be the constitution of all. We want nothing more than our rights as citizens who were born in this country, do military service, pay taxes and vote in elections," Bartholomew I said. The patriarch said he requested the re-opening of the Halki Seminary and financial assistance from the state in eduction and religious services of the minorities. "Our hopes are high this time and we are very much grateful," Bartholomew I said.   The Fener Greek Orthodox Patriarch is recognized by the Turkish state as the spiritual leader of the Greek minority in Turkey whose rights are protected by the 1923 Lausanne Treaty.  The patriarch is subject to the authority of the Republic of Turkey and he must be a Turkey-born citizen to be elected Patriarch.