EU Commission Progress Report on Turkey though strongly criticizing the country’s progress in terms of meeting enlargement criteria (rule of law, democracy, human rights), reflected upon a few positive developments. Re-opening of the Armenian Holy Cross Church on the Akhdamar island in lake Van was among one those positive developments in terms of freedom of thought, religion and conscience.
]The report particularly noted that “freedom of worship continues to be generally respected…In September the third religious service since 1915 was held at the Armenian Holy Cross Church on the Akhdamar island in lake Van. A number of crypto-Armenians have started to use their original names and religion. Police protection has been provided to a number of church leaders and several churches receive police protection during services”
Granting minority organizations foundation status has been marked as another positive development- “The Izmir Jewish community, the Greek primary girls’ school in Istanbul and the Armenian Tibrevank Lycée in Istanbul were granted foundation status by administrative decisions.” Dialogue between the Government and minority representatives has as well been marked positive with some limitations. “The Ministry of National Education approved a new regulation allowing children from Armenian, Greek and Jewish minorities who are not Turkish citizens to be educated in minority schools. However, children who are not Turkish citizens do not receive official graduation papers”.
On the other hand, Commission’s report articulated its concern in terms of Hrant Dink case- “The five-year court case on the murder of Armenian journalist Hrant Dink 11 ended on 17 January 2012. One person was convicted for incitement to murder, but all defendants were acquitted of charges of links to a terrorist organisation; the family of Hrant Dink demanded a new investigation into the conduct of various members of the police force and Gendarmerie who seemed to be implicated in the crime according to an inquiry conducted by the Presidential State Inspection Board (DDK). Full execution of the ECtHR judgment of 14 September 2010 on the Dink case is crucial for Turkey in order to fight impunity and to hold all involved accountable before the law”.
Demolition of Armenian cemetery in Malatya and the anti-Armenian march in Istanbul’s Taksim square on February 26 have been marked as negatively impacting Turkey’s dialogue with its minorities.
