AHIPAC CONGRESSIONAL QUESTIONNAIRE 2000 GUIDE TO UNDERSTANDING THE QUESTIONNAIRE

The responses listed below are in a "yes," "no" or "undecided" format.  In many cases, the candidates commented or supplied explanations as to the reasons behind their decision.  Unfortunately, space limitations do not allow us to publish the full breadth of some of the responses. It is important to note this when reviewing the responses. A "U" or "undecided" does not mean that the candidate is unsympathetic to our issues but requires more information. Please use the campaign contact information to engage the candidate on our issues. You may also write your representative using our new Congress Web Program. Key: 1. Chamb: Chamber of Congress, ie. House or Senate 2. I/C: I= Incumbent; C= Challenger Answers: Y= Yes; N= No; U= Undecided * Candidates with an asterisk beside their name indicated their refusal to answer the questionnaire.

ECUMENICAL PATRIARCHATE AND THE HALKI PATRIARCHAL SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY

In recent years there have been successive terrorist attempts to desecrate and destroy the Orthodox Christian Ecumenical Patriarch’s premises in the Fanar area of Istanbul by placing bombs or other incendiary devices in the Patriarchate and by posting slanderous inscriptions on its walls. The Ecumenical Patriarchate is the spiritual center for more than 250 million Orthodox Christians worldwide ­ including approximately 5 million in the United States.

Patriarch Bartholomew and those associated with the Ecumenical Patriarchate must be protected under Turkish law against blatant attacks towards ethnic minorities. It is the Turkish government’s obligation to protect the Ecumenical Patriarchate, a major international religious institution that is located on Turkish soil. Further, it is the Turkish government’s obligation to protect and guarantee the rights and religious freedom of the Greek minority under international treaties and agreements.

In 1971 the Turkish government arbitrarily and illegally closed the Halki Patriarchal School of Theology. The Halki School is the only educational institution in Turkey for Orthodox Christians entering the priesthood.

The continued provocations against the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the closing of the Halki School of Theology are violations of international treaties which Turkey has signed, including the Treaty of Lausanne, the 1968 Protocol, the Helsinki Final Act- 1975, and the Charter of Paris. The Turkish provocations have severely compromised and threatened the safety and security of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. In January 1998 a Greek Orthodox sexton was murdered at his church, Saint Therapon, in Istanbul.

QUESTION 6: Do you agree that the U.S. should use its influence with the Turkish government to ensure the proper protection for the Patriarchate, assure that positive steps are taken to reopen the Halki Patriarchal School of Theology, and to establish conditions to ensure religious freedom in Turkey?

Please note: List organized alphabetically by STATE, then DISTRICT. Senators are listed first. For questions, please e-mail info@ahiworld.org. Thanks!

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