The President of PASOK and the Movement for Change, Nikos Androulakis, and the Vice-President of the European Parliament, Eva Kailiasked the European Commission to examine the desecration of the monastery of Panagia Soumela by the Turkish authorities.
It was noted that this decision is a continuation of a series of provocative actions, such as the conversion of Hagia Sophia and Chora Monastery into mosques, two World Heritage sites protected by UNESCO.
This is in addition to the conversion of Hagia Sophia in Trapezounta (Τραπεζούντα, Turkish: Trabzon) into a mosque.
READ MORE: Professor Mazis: Greece must open a consulate in Pontos, Tenedos and Imvros.
When questioned, they noted that respect for the cultural heritage of monuments in its territory is a prerequisite for accession negotiations with the EU and called on the Commission to take the necessary measures.
Here is the text of the question:
“One of the most historic monuments of Pontic Hellenism, the monastery of Panagia Soumela, a candidate for inscription on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, has been desecrated by the Turkish authorities.
“They gave permission to make it a ‘club’ with a DJ playing electronic music.
“The Turkish authorities have authorized, as they claim, a tourist promotion of the monument, in complete disregard of the religious feeling of millions of Orthodox Christians for whom Panagia Soumela has been the cradle of their faith for more than 16 centuries.
READ MORE: Professor Fotiadis: There are up to 2 million crypto-Greeks in Turkey and many visit Panagia Soumela in Pontos.
“At the same time, the Minister of Culture said that 77 relics of the monastery of Panagia Soumela have been identified inside and outside Turkey, for which procedures have been initiated for their claim and their return. in Turkey.
“Does she intend to make a recommendation/protest to the Turkish authorities for the desecration of the monument?
“After the provocative transformation of Hagia Sophia in Trapezounta as well as Hagia Sophia and the Chora Monastery in Istanbul into a mosque, how does it intend to emphasize in Turkey that respect for the cultural heritage of the monuments of its territory is a fundamental condition for the continuation of accession negotiations with the EU?
“Does it intend to intervene with the Turkish authorities in order to relocate the relics preserved in the warehouses of the museums of Ankara and Hagia Sophia in the area of the monastery which now serves as a museum?”
READ MORE: The “discotheque” of Panagia Soumela: Extremists do not respect it because it symbolizes Pontian Hellenism.
