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ISTANBUL: Vingas: Turkey's non-Muslims, government getting closer

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  • ISTANBUL: Vingas: Turkey's non-Muslims, government getting closer

    Today's Zaman, Turkey
    Jan 1 2012

    Vingas: Turkey's non-Muslims, government getting closer

    1 January 2012 / YONCA POYRAZ DOÄ?AN , Ä°STANBUL


    Laki Vingas, the first non-Muslim citizen of Turkey to be elected as a
    representative of non-Muslim foundations in the Council of the General
    Assembly of the VGM, has said that the government and the non-Muslim
    community have been establishing closer relations after years of
    mistrust and distance.

    `Since we had a new law, we had a new chance. The first meeting of VGM
    officials with non-Muslim community leaders in Ä°stanbul in March 2009
    has recently borne fruit,' Vingas said for Monday Talk. `What seemed
    so unattainable has become attainable.'

    He was referring to the new law on non-Muslim foundations that was
    passed in Parliament in 2008 with some deficiencies because of
    nationalistic reactions as those foundations would be able to reclaim
    their seized properties.

    In November 2006, Parliament passed a bill to return assets and
    property previously seized from non-Muslim foundations by the state,
    but it was vetoed by then-President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, who claimed
    the bill was a national security risk and returned the bill to
    Parliament. That law was subject to much criticism because it violated
    the fundamental rights and liberties of non-Muslim citizens, which are
    guaranteed under the Turkish Constitution, the European Convention on
    Human Rights and the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne.' Then, civil society
    groups appealed to the government and Parliament not to pass the bill
    in its current form and to listen to representatives of non-Muslim
    foundations before coming up with a new draft.

    `A few years ago, our foundations were regarded as `foreign' by some
    in Turkey, but today the highest-level officials of the country come
    together with non-Muslim community representatives,' he said.

    In a more recent move, the government issued a decree to return
    properties confiscated from religious minorities since 1936, and in
    cases where property belonging to such organizations has been sold by
    the state to third parties, the religious foundation will be paid the
    market value of the property by the Ministry of Finance.

    The decision was announced before an iftar (fast-breaking dinner) on
    Aug. 28, attended by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip ErdoÄ?an and
    representatives of non-Muslim communities in Ä°stanbul, and non-Muslim
    groups in Turkey have highly praised the government's move.

    The law on foundations in 1936 aimed to control non-Muslim foundations
    by placing them under the guardianship of the VGM. Since then
    government relations with non-Muslims have become even more troubled
    than before. The laws on foundations have been altered a few times,
    with new amendments following each other; new laws granting some
    rights, which were then rescinded by other regulations.

    Turkey's population of nearly 75 million, mostly Muslim, includes
    about 65,000 Armenian Orthodox Christians, 20,000 Jews, 15,000
    Assyrians and about 3,500 Greek Orthodox Christians. While Armenian
    groups have 52 and Jewish groups have 17 foundations, Greeks have 75.
    Some of the properties seized from those foundations include
    hospitals, schools and cemeteries.

    Answering our questions, Vingas said that the government's relations
    with non-Muslims are changing for the better.

    If we go back three years ago, when you were first elected to the post
    to represent non-Muslim foundations, what would you tell us about it?

    Let me tell you about how I feel as a person living in this country.
    First of all, I've always felt like a full-fledged citizen in this
    country -- even at times when I faced troubles that made me think that
    I should not feel that way. In my opinion, I had only one way to go:
    to live as a full-fledged citizen while I protected my identity
    without being ashamed of it. I knew that I was not a person who could
    act in a different way. When I speak like this, some people might say:
    `Laki never had to endure any hardships. How would he know the
    difficulties and pains that the non-Muslim community has had to suffer
    from?' But even though I had my own difficult stories, I still felt
    like I am either a full-fledged citizen or not; I would not change my
    name or act as if I am not from a certain, different background than
    the majority. Before I was first elected for the post three years ago,
    I was dealing with the cultural events of the Greek community, and in
    the process I've been trying to establish bridges between and among
    different cultures. So recently, when there was an opportunity for
    non-Muslims to be representatives of their community in the VGM, I
    asked in the community what they were planning to do.

    If we can pause there for a moment, let's talk about when exactly this
    right was provided for non-Muslims¦

    It was provided when the Law on Foundations was changed in 2008, and
    took effect in 2009. But while the bill concerning non-Muslim
    foundations was being discussed in Parliament in 2008, there were
    objections and attacks against the government going so far as to claim
    that it was betraying and selling out the country! The law passed with
    some deficiencies. During the implementation phase for the return of
    properties during the last three years, we've seen deficiencies that
    have been improved by recent decrees. At the time, in 2009, I was
    asking our Greek community what plans they had as we have rights for
    representation in the VGM. I proposed a couple of candidates from our
    community, but since they couldn't leave their positions to go to
    Ankara twice a month they couldn't accept.

    And people started to look at me. With the support of our Greek,
    Armenian and Jewish foundations, I was elected and completed my
    three-year term.

    And you were the first non-Muslim to be in that representative
    position in the VGM¦

    Yes.

    ----------------------------------------------------------------

    `It was a difficult encounter for non-Muslims and government'
    How were you received in Ankara?

    It was an unusual coming together as both sides have had reservations
    toward each other, but we had to take risks. Non-Muslim cultures
    belong to this land, and they enrich this land. We are realities in
    this country. Approaching each other has not been very easy as it
    requires patience, analysis and compromise. If you are not sincere, if
    you are not at peace with yourself, if you are not there to find
    solutions to problems and if you don't believe that you can claim your
    future in your native land, you cannot be successful. My duty was to
    further develop relations between state authorities and non-Muslim
    foundations as well as try to develop relations among non-Muslim
    communities. Of course this needed to be done with actions to
    compensate for past injustices -- to give back what had been taken
    unjustly before. Another duty of mine has been making the non-Muslim
    communities more participatory as they have started to feel more
    relaxed and at ease. Seeing and acting on that reality is possible
    through laws; it is not enough to be aware of it in one's conscious
    and religion. It is certain that the non-Muslim communities do not
    have much political power since they are few in number. They are not
    an economic power anymore, either. They don't have the power to lead
    socially. However, Turkey has a major responsibility to keep their
    legacy and culture alive since it could enrich and positively
    contribute the young generations of Turkey. Turkey has a
    responsibility not only to preserve them but also to provide
    opportunities for them to flourish.

    Do you think that the great distance between the VGM and the
    non-Muslim communities has been narrowed in recent years?

    There was a huge distance between them. First, that distance should be
    reduced before doing anything else. Giving presents or even rights to
    non-Muslims communities without establishing a trusting environment
    would do no good; and for trust to develop there must be a dialogue.
    Since we had a new law, we had a new chance. We are finally seeing the
    results of the 2009 meeting of VGM officials with non-Muslim community
    leaders. There were about 200 people during that meeting, which seemed
    so impossible before it happened. Until that time, relations between
    the VGM and the non-Muslim community has been through the assistance
    of certain people. Only those people were able to establish relations
    with VGM officials. But we supported a more open relationship, more
    open dialogue in which each citizen would be able approach his or her
    representative. After that meeting, we had more gatherings together.
    And what seemed so unattainable has become attainable. Here, I have to
    underline the importance of the government's positive approach to the
    issue. A few years ago, our foundations were regarded as `foreign' by
    some in Turkey, but today the highest-level officials of the country
    come together with non-Muslim community representatives.

    How do you think the opposition has changed in that regard?

    We haven't seen any political resistance from the opposition in the
    last three years. There are some close relations at the local level --
    the Büyükada, Bakırköy and Sarıyer municipalities work with the
    non-Muslims communities, and non-Muslims can assume active roles in
    these municipalities.

    VGM does not have very much visibility in society, does it?

    The VGM is a closed government institution, and its services are not
    well known. It has recently founded two universities, Fatih Sultan
    Mehmet University and Bezmiâlem University. There are also major
    valuable restorations that the VGM has undertaken, among them churches
    and synagogues.

    You have a major undertaking in your second term at the VGM as there
    will be a process to return a number of properties to non-Muslims.

    The maximum number of applications that we expect is 350. They will be
    reviewed, and then there will be a decision made about how many of
    those will be actually returned. It's been four months since the
    governmental decree was announced, but there have not been many
    applications so far.

    Isn't it a problem that the VGM still has the final say over
    registering the title deeds of the properties that will be returned to
    their owners?

    This is a political decision. The reasons that led to the founding of
    the VGM in 1924 might have changed today, and the institution might
    need reforms in light of today's developments. And that reform might
    be possible if there is the political will.

    ----------------------------------------------------------------

    `Non-Muslims demand equal rights'
    There are still some concerns about some of the properties because
    they do not fall under the category of properties to be returned. One
    such property concerns the Armenian community; the Tuzla Armenian
    Children's Camp was built by Hrant Dink and it was bought by the
    GedikpaÅ?a Armenian Foundation. But subsequent to a later Supreme Court
    of Appeals ruling, acquisitions made after the infamous 1936
    declaration have no legal validity, and therefore had to be returned
    to their former owners. As a result, the Tuzla camp was returned to
    its first owner.

    I agree with the community's rightful needs. We also have to realize
    that property returns have been possible since 2003 with missing parts
    being completed in each next step. It is important to see how the
    implementation of the laws will be. Let's first take advantage of new
    developments provided by the law. It is of historic importance that we
    will compensate the foundations for some of their losses. I have no
    doubt that all those new and recent laws are passed with utmost
    sincerity. And nobody says that rights cannot be sought further. It
    takes time. Yes, we are tired; we are losing our patience. Look what
    is happening to our schools; they are being closed down one by one.
    Non-Muslim schools' representatives recently had a meeting with the
    minister of education [Ã-mer Dinçer]. It was a very important meeting.
    It wouldn't really matter if you gave properties back to uneducated,
    ignorant, prejudiced and insecure people. But if our rights to
    education are granted without political influence, then we will be
    strengthened. Without education, buildings do not matter. I hope
    non-Muslim foundations will be strengthened after receiving some of
    their properties back. After that, they can participate to a greater
    degree in society. We have been longing to see non-Muslims as natural
    citizens of Turkey.

    Would you elaborate on this concept of natural citizenship?

    Non-Muslims citizens of this country should not be given anything just
    because this is what the European Union wants or because the world is
    watching Turkey with regard to this issue. The purpose is to make
    non-Muslims feel at ease. They should not be defined within the limits
    of how much property they had or that they have now; they should not
    be defined by looking at their past. They are not `foreigners.' They
    don't have a `secret agenda.' They have a culture, and they can
    contribute to progress in Turkey just like any other Turkish citizen.
    They can share sorrows and joys of this country just like any other
    Turkish citizen. They should be accepted and treated as equal
    citizens. We do not want to be on Turkey's political agenda anymore.
    We do not have to be in a defensive position, proving all the time our
    devotion to the country.

    ----------------------------------------------------------------

    Greek seminary to be opened when religious freedom granted
    Why is the Halki Seminary on Heybeliada still closed?

    The Halki Seminary has been closed for years as a result of political
    speculation. It has been the Patriarchate that has been paying dearly
    for it. Currently, Turkey is in the process of preparing a new
    constitution. It's been a good process since we are all debating what
    should and shouldn't be in that new constitution. This is quite
    different than the process of the 1980s when a military-designed
    constitution was imposed on people. The new constitution is supposed
    to grant equal citizenship for all people in Turkey; it is supposed to
    provide religious freedom, freedom of expression and the right to
    assembly. It is supposed to prohibit hate speech and discrimination.
    If those are granted in the new constitution, the seminary will
    automatically be opened because opening the seminary falls under the
    freedom of religion issue. When there is freedom of religion, then
    adherents of a religion should be able to educate their religious
    people.

    ----------------------------------------------------------------

    PROFILE
    Laki Vingas

    Elected to the Council of the General Assembly of the VGM -- attached
    to the Prime Minister's Office in Ankara -- as the Representative of
    Non-Muslim Foundations at the end of 2008, he will serve his second
    term in the position following elections on Dec. 25. A Turkish citizen
    of Greek descent, living in Yeniköy, İstanbul, Vingas is a
    businessman. He actually studied marine engineering. He is the elected
    representative of 164 non-Muslim foundations in the council of the
    VGM.

    In his words:

    `I never practiced my engineering profession. My father died when I
    graduated from high school. We did not have connections in society,
    which was typical for a non-Muslim family at the time. We were living
    in our own, isolated world. I had applied, through an intermediary, to
    some companies to find a job. But I found that companies had some
    non-Muslim employees and did not want to hire more non-Muslims. I gave
    up looking for a job in engineering thinking that the situation was
    out of my hands, and I was not going to be able to find a job in that
    field. I graduated from university in 1983. These were tough years,
    really tough [following the Sept. 12, 1980, military coup]. Every day,
    we would enter the university after identification checks; there were
    military policemen everywhere. Sometimes we were not even allowed to
    use bathrooms. Once I was sitting next to a student who asked me if I
    was Greek. I said, yes, but I was uneasy; we were already dealing with
    the issues of being leftist and rightist at the time and now this! He
    sensed my anxiety, then smiled and said, `Don't worry, I am an
    Armenian.' Unfortunately, we grew up with such anxieties.'

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