There is No Place Like Constantinople in Turkey: Bahceli

The Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew, is governed by Turkish law, as Turkey does not recognize his "ecumenical status" and will not allow Istanbul to become the second Vatican. This statement was made by Devlet Bahceli, the leader of the Nationalist Movement Party, during a parliamentary speech that was broadcast on TRT Haber.

Bahceli commented on Bartholomew's participation in a conference on Ukraine in Bürgenstock, Switzerland, where he was introduced as the "ecumenical patriarch." During the meeting, the Patriarch of Constantinople delivered a speech and signed the final communiqué.

"The conference ignored Turkey's sovereign rights. The status of the Greek Patriarchate of Constantinople is evident. It is administratively subject to the Fatih district prefecture of Istanbul, and the elected patriarch is a citizen of Turkey. There is no place in Turkey like Constantinople," Bahceli stated.

Earlier, Turkey's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that it had demanded clarification from the organizers of the Ukraine conference regarding the presence of Bartholomew's signature on the final declaration. The ministry emphasized that Turkey's position regarding the status of the Patriarch of Constantinople remains unchanged and it does not recognize Bartholomew's title as "Ecumenical Patriarch." Turkish authorities refer to the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne, which defines the Phanar Patriarch (the area where the patriarchate is located) as the head of Turkey's Greek Orthodox community.