Ankara tried to reduce the participation and presence of the Ecumenical Patriarchate at the recent Swiss Conference on the Ukrainian issue.
As Middle East Eye reports, Ankara protested to Swiss organizers about the inclusion of the Patriarchate in the list of signatories. The end result was to add the (somewhat unnecessary) note that the Patriarchate was participating in an observer capacity.
As announced a few days ago by the representative of the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Oncu Ketseli, Turkey requested an explanation from the organizers to add the name of the Patriarchate to the co-signatories (states and observers) of the declaration.
Ketseli notes in his post: “The news that the Patriarchate participated in the Ukrainian Peace Summit held in Switzerland on June 15-16, 2024 with state status and that our Minister had an official bilateral meeting with Patriarch Bartholomew on the sidelines of the Synod does not reflect the truth.
Some news related to Ukraina Barış Zirvesi’yle:
Fener Rum Patrikhanesi’nin, June 15-16, 2024 tarihirinde Ukraina Barış Zirvesi’ne devlet statüsünde katildığı ve Sayın Bakanımizın Zirve marjında Fener Rum Patriği Bartholomeos’la resmi bir ikili…
— Öncü Keçeli | Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (@SpoxTR_MFA) June 19, 2024
An explanation was requested from the Summit organizers, Switzerland and Ukraine, regarding the allegations that the name of the Greek Patriarchate was later added as a signatory to the Joint Declaration, which was accepted at the end of the Summit.”
The attitude shown by Ankara regarding the status with which the Patriarchate participated in the Conference is probably the result of the well-known (and intolerant) excess of zeal, but without substantial opposition, since the Ecumenical Patriarchate had been included from the beginning in the mixed list of states and observers of the Conference.
Below is the statement and the initial list of signatories.
The joint statement
“The Russian Federation’s ongoing war against Ukraine continues to cause large-scale human suffering and destruction and create risks and crises with global implications. We meet in Switzerland on June 15-16, 2024, to promote high-level dialogue on pathways to a comprehensive, just and lasting peace for Ukraine. We reiterate resolutions A/RES/ES-11/1 and A/RES/ES-11/6 adopted by the UN General Assembly and underline our commitment to upholding international law, including the Charter of the United Nations. This Summit built on previous debates held on the basis of the Ukraine Peace Formula and other peace proposals that are in accordance with international law, including the Charter of the United Nations.
We deeply appreciate Switzerland’s hospitality and its initiative to host the High-Level Summit as an expression of its firm commitment to promoting international peace and security.
We had a fruitful, comprehensive and constructive exchange of views on the paths towards a framework for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace, based on international law, including the Charter of the United Nations. In particular, we reaffirm our commitment to refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State, the principles of sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of all States, including Ukraine, within their internationally recognized borders, including territorial waters, and the resolution of disputes by peaceful means as principles of international law.
Furthermore, we have a common vision for following critical aspects:
- Firstly, any use of nuclear energy and nuclear facilities must be safe, secure, secure and environmentally sound. Ukrainian nuclear power plants and facilities, including the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, must operate safely, under the full sovereign control of Ukraine and in accordance with IAEA principles and under its supervision. Any threat or use of nuclear weapons in the ongoing war against Ukraine is unacceptable.
- Second, global food security depends on uninterrupted food production and supply. In this sense, free, full and safe commercial navigation, as well as access to seaports in the Black and Azov Seas, are crucial. Attacks on commercial ships in ports and along the route, as well as against civilian ports and civilian port infrastructure are unacceptable. Food safety should not be weaponized in any way. Ukrainian agricultural products must be supplied safely and free of charge to interested third countries.
- Third, all prisoners of war must be released in full exchange. All illegally deported and displaced Ukrainian children, and all other illegally detained Ukrainian citizens, must be returned to Ukraine.
We believe that achieving peace requires participation and dialogue between all parties. We have therefore decided to take concrete steps in the future in the above-mentioned areas, with greater involvement of representatives from all parties.
The Charter of the United Nations, including the principles of respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of all States, can and will serve as a basis for achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine.
List of states and international organizations supporting the joint statement:
Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Barbados, Belgium, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cape Verde, Canada, Chile, Comoros, Costa Rica, Ivory Coast, Council of Europe, Cooperative Republic of Guyana , Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Estonia, European Commission, European Council, European Parliament, Fiji, Finland, France, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Kingdom of Tonga, Kosovo, Latvia, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Organization of American States , Palau, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Romania, San Marino, São Tomé and Príncipe, Serbia, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Somalia, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland , East Timor, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Zambia
The Ecumenical Patriarchate participated in the Synod as an observer and supports the principles established in the Joint Communiqué.