2010 Brussels

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Speakers

Mustafa Akyol

Author

His Eminence Archbishop Aram Ateshian

Representative Of The Armenian Community

His Excellency Egemen Bağiş

Minister For E.U. Affairs And Chief Negotiator

Dogan Bermek

President, AVF Federation of Alevi Foundations

Orhan Kemal Cengiz

Attorney

His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America

Archbishop of America

W. Cole Durham, Jr.

Susa Young Gates University Professor of Law

Dr. Steven Ealy

Senior Fellow, Liberty Fund

Andrew Ekonomou

PhD, Senior Counsel Of The American Center For Law And Justice And The European Centre For Law And Justice

His Eminence Metropolitan Emmanuel of France

Director, The Liaison Office of the Orthodox Church to the European Union

Kezban Hatemi

Attorney

Prof. Dr. Huseyin Hatemi

Professor, Istanbul University School Of Law And Maltepe University

Angela Wu Howard

International Law Director

Dilek Kurban, MA, JD

Stiftung Mercator-IPC Fellow

Anthony J. Limberakis, M.D.

National Commander of the Order of Saint Andrew the Apostle, Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate

Johny Messo

President, World Council of Arameans (Syriacs)

Fr. Dr. Claudio Monge

President, Union Of Religions In Turkey

Muna Ndulo

Professor of Law, Cornell Law School

Dr. Otmar Oehring

Director, Human Rights Office Pontifical Mission Society

Emre Öktem

Associate Professor of International Law

Dr. Pieter Omtzigt

PhD, Member Parliamentary Assembly

Jamie Mayor Orega

Member, European Parliament

Dr. Elizabeth Prodromou

Harvard University, Center for European Studies

Gregor Puppinck

PhD, Director

George C. Rockas, Esq.

Conference Planning Chairman

Dr. Bican Sahin

Assistant Professor, Hacettepe University

Odysseus F. Sassayiannis

President Of The Brotherhood Of Pammakaristos

Rabbi Arthur Schneier

President And Founder, Appeal Of Conscience Foundation

James J. Silk

Clinical Professor Of Law Allard K. Lowenstein International Human Rights Clinic

Dr. Renate Sommer

Member, European Parliament

Konrad Szymanski

Member, European Parliament

Metin Tarhan

Chairman, Alevi Associations

Rodi Kratsa Tsagaropoulou

Vice President Of The European Parliament

Riza Turmen

Former Judge, European Court of Human Rights

P. Lakis Vingas

Council Member, General Directorate of Foundations

Mine Yildirim

Humanitarian and Religious Freedom Advocate

Speeches & Addresses

Banquet Message of Dr. Anthony J. Limberakis
It is difficult for me to express in adequate fashion the delight and pride that I feel, on behalf of the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, for the incomparable success and invaluable significance of the international conference that we have all experienced over the last two days here in the beautiful and historical city of Brussels, the capital of Europe.
Closing Remarks of Dr. Anthony J. Limberakis
It is with overwhelming feelings of pride and gratitude that I humbly offer these closing thoughts to you today. Truly, in the last 48 hours, we have experienced an extraordinary event of lasting spiritual, political, diplomatic and social significance.
Opening Remarks of His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America
With gratitude toward God and with fervent prayer for all people, I greet you with love in the Lord at the opening of this historic International Archon Religious Freedom Conference.
Greetings of Prime Minister Leterme of Belgium
"I warmly welcome the participants to this very interesting conference and I wish them very successful debates."
Speech of Lakis Vingas
I am honored and pleased to join you here, today, in the seat of the European Union, to discuss issues of religious freedom and some general concerns expressed by religious minorities in Turkey.
Salutation of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew
With great spiritual satisfaction and gratefulness of heart, we greet all of you, the participants of this truly historic religious freedom conference, as you commence your work and days of collaboration and exchange.
Welcoming Remarks of Rodi Kratsa Tsagaropoulou
I am very pleased to welcome you in Brussels in our house in the European Parliament. I would also like to thank the organizers for their kind invitation to attend the opening of this conference. I sincerely regret that my Vice Presidency obligations in London have not allowed me to share my thoughts with you in person as I had planned.
Welcoming Remarks of Dr. Anthony J. Limberakis
Please allow me first to express our deep appreciation to Her Excellency Rodi Kratsa Tsagaropoulou, Vice President of the European Parliament for hosting this conference here at the European Parliament. We are most grateful Madame Vice President.
Greetings from Odysseus F. Sassayiannis
Religious freedom is a very complex and ‘hot' issue in our multicultural societies. This modern human right claims from state and religions more than tolerance towards groups and persons with different religious convictions.
Keynote Address of His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America
I thank God for this honor of being with you this evening at the beginning of our historic conference on religious freedom.

News

The Archon 1st International Conference on Religious Freedom concludes in Brussels
An historic international religious freedom conference held at the European Parliament, November 16-17, focused on common issues of minorities living in Turkey. The Conference proposed solutions in the hopes that Turkey will ultimately do what is in its own best interest in order to gain accession to the European Union by dramatically improving its religious freedom policies towards the Ecumenical Patriarchate and other religious minorities.
Hurriyet Daily News reports on 'The Patriarchate is ecumenical'
What brought me to the European capital this time is an international conference organized by the Archons. Never heard of the Archons before? I, at least, had not heard about them until a few months ago, when they invited me to speak at the "Religious Freedom: Turkey's Bridge to the European Union" conference, which was held this week right at the European Parliament.
New Europe newspaper publishes special edition focusing on religious freedom
In conjunction with the International Archon Religious Freedom Conference at the European Parliament held in Brussels, Belgium, the New Europe newspaper published an insert regarding religious freedom as a fundamental principle for human life.
International Archon Conference to focus on, "Religious Freedom: Turkey's Bridge to the European Union"
The Order of St. Andrew the Apostle, Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in America, will hold an International Religious Freedom Conference entitled "Religious Freedom: Turkey's Bridge to the European Union," on November 16-17, 2010 at the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium.
Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate to honor Egemen Bağiş for Religious Freedom
On Tuesday November 16, 2010, the Order of Saint Andrew, and the Order of Pammakaristos, Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in the Americas and Europe, will honor His Excellency, Egemen Bağiş, Minister for European Union Affairs and Chief Negotiator of the Republic of Turkey
Last Call! Registration for International Archon Religious Freedom Conference
The International Archon Religious Freedom Conference has been finalized and is scheduled in Brussels, Belgium at the European Parliament from November 13-19.

Photos

Video

Schedule

DAY ONE: THE BRIDGE

tuesday, november 16, 2010
the european parliament
room 5b.01

9:00–9:10 AM Welcome
Anthony j. limberakis, m.d.
National Commander, Order of Saint Andrew the Apostle
Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in America
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
rodi kratsa tsagaropoulou
Vice President of the European Parliament
Greece
9:10–9:15 AM Patriarchal Exhortation
his eminence METROPOLITAN EMMANUEL OF FRANCE
Director, The Liaison Office of the Orthodox Church
to the European Union
Paris, France
9:15–9:25 AM Opening Remarks
his eminence archbishop demetrios OF AMERICA
Primate, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Exarch of the Ecumenical Patriarchate
New York, New York
9:25–9:45 AM Religious Freedom: The Fundamental Human Right
RABBI ARTHUR SCHNEIER
President, Appeal of Conscience Foundation
New York, New York
9:45–10:30 AM An Overview of the Issues and Concerns
of Religious Minorities in Turkey
otmar oehring, PhD
Director, Human Rights Office, Pontifical Mission Society
Germany
pieter omtzigt, PhD
Member, Parliamentary Assembly, Council of Europe
Enschede, Netherlands
grÉgor puppinck, PhD
Director, European Centre of Law and Justice
Strasbourg, France
10:30–11:00 AM his excellency EGEMEN BAGIS
Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator
Republic of Turkey

Special presentation to His Excellency Egemen Bagis
by the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate
11:00–11:15 AM Break
11:15–12:30 PM panel discussion: The Specific Religious Freedom Issues and Concerns of the following Religious Minorities: Alevi Muslim; Armenian; Catholic; Greek Orthodox; Jewish;
Protestant; and Syriac
Moderator
DR. EMRE ÖKTEM
Assistant Professor, Galatasaray University
Istanbul, Turkey
Panelists
DOGAN BERMEK
Representative of the Alevi Muslim Community
President, AVF Federation of Alevi Foundations
Istanbul, Turkey
METIN TARHAN
Representative of the Alevi Muslim Community
Chairman of the Alevi Associations
Istanbul, Turkey
his eminence ARCHBISHOP ARAM ATESHIAN
Representative of the Armenian Community
Istanbul, Turkey
FATHER CLAUDIO MONGE
Representative of the Catholic Community
President, Union of Religions in Turkey
Istanbul, Turkey

LAKIS VINGAS
Representative of the Greek Orthodox Community
Council Member, General Directorate of Foundations
Representative of the Non Muslim Foundations
Istanbul, Turkey

MINE YILDIRIM
Representative of the Protestant Community
Member, Committee of Religious and Legal Affairs
Association of Protestant Churches
Istanbul, Turkey

JOHNY MESSO
Representative of the Syriac Community
President of the Syriac Universal Alliance
Hengelo, Netherlands
12:30–1:00 PM The Rights of Religious Minorities under the
Turkish Legal System
Orhan Kemal Cengiz
Lawyer, Human Rights Defender and Newspaper Columnist
Izmir, Turkey
1:00–2:30 PM Lunch
2:30–3:00 PM Turkey’s Obligations under Treaties and Conventions
james j. silk
Clinical Professor of Law, Allard K. Lowenstein International
Human Rights Clinic and Executive Director, Orville H. Schell, Jr. Center for International Human Rights, Yale Law School
New Haven, Connecticut
3:00–3:15 PM U.S. Foreign Policy and Religious Freedom in Turkey:
Commentary from the United States Commission
on International Religious Freedom
dr. elizabeth h. prodromou
Vice Chair, United States Commission
on International Religious Freedom
Washington, D.C.
3:15–3:30 PM The Halki Theological School–
A Case Study on the Obstacles Faced by Religious Minorities
kezban hatemi
Attorney
Istanbul, Turkey
3:30–3:45 PM Break
3:45–4:30 PM Religious Freedom: Legal and Humanitarian Perspectives
Moderator
ANGELA WU HOWARD
International Law Director, Becket Fund for Religious Liberty
Washington, D.C.
Panelists
COLE DURHAM
Susan Young Gates University Professor of Law
Director, International Center for Law and Religious Studies
J. Reuben Clark Law School, Brigham Young University
Provo, Utah

DILEK KURBAN, BA, MA, JD
Program Officer Democratization Program
Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation
Istanbul, Turkey
MUNA B. NDULO
Professor of Law, Cornell Law School
Director of Cornell’s Institute for African Development
Human Rights Advocate and Humanitarian
Ithaca, New York
6:30–8:00 PM Reception

Hosted by the Honorable and Mrs. Howard W. Gutman
United States Ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium
United States Embassy


DAY 2: CROSSING OVER

wednesday, november 17, 2010
the conrad brussels hotel
ballroom a

 

9:00–9:30 am The View from the Turkish Side of the Bridge:
Obstacles and Prospects
Mustafa akyol
Journalist and Political Commentator
Istanbul, Turkey
9:30–10:00 am Interfaith Understanding and Dialogue–
A Way to Cross the Bridge
dr. EMRE ÖKTEM
Assistant Professor, Galatasaray University
Istanbul, Turkey
10:00–10:30 am Are Religious Minorities compatible with
a secular Turkish State?
dr. bican sahin
Assistant Professor, Hacettepe University
Vice President, Association of Liberal Thinking
Ankara, Turkey
10:30–10:45 am Break
10:45–11:45 Am The View from the European Parliamentarians’ side
of the Bridge
jamie mayor oreja
European Parliament
Spain
dr. renate sommer
European Parliament
Germany
konrad szymanski
European Parliament
Poland
11:45–1:15 pm Lunch
1:15–1:45 pm Case Law from the European Court of Human Rights
dealing with Religious Freedom Issues
riza türmen
Former Judge, European Court of Human Rights
Turkey
1:45–2:15 pm Finding Answers in International Forums,
including the European Court of Human Rights
ANDREW EKONOMOU, PhD
Senior Counsel of the American Center for Law and Justice, Washington, D.C., and the European Centre for Law and Justice, Strasbourg, France
Atlanta, Georgia
2:15–2:30 pm The Framework for Productive Dialogue Going Forward
PROF. DR. Hüseyin Hatemi
Professor, Istanbul University School of Law
and Maltepe University
Istanbul, Turkey
2:30–2:45 pm Break
2:45–4:45 pm Symposium: Interactive dialogue regarding
Religious Freedom in Turkey
The symposium will be an interactive exchange among panelists concerning various aspects of the issues faced by religious minorities in Turkey and proposed answers to those issues.
Moderator
DR. STEVEN EALY
Senior Fellow, Liberty Fund
Indianapolis, Indiana
Panelists
MUSTAFA AKYOL
ORHAN CENGIZ
ANDREW EKONOMOU
DILEK KURBAN
MUNA NDULO
OTMAR OEHRING
DR. ELIZABETH PRODROMOU
BICAN SAHIN
KONRAD SZYMANSKI
ANGELA WU HOWARD
4:45 pm Closing Remarks
anthony j. limberakis, m.d.
7:30–8:00 pm

8:00–10:00 pm Farewell Reception

Grand Banquet
The Brussels Hilton Hotel
En Plein Ciel Ballroom, 27th Floor