U.S. ORTHODOX LEADERS DISCUSS HALKI, PATRIARCHATE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 000895

SIPDIS


DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SE


E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/17/2014
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM GR TU
SUBJECT: U.S. ORTHODOX LEADERS DISCUSS HALKI, PATRIARCHATE
WITH GOT


Classified by Ambassador; reasons 1.5 b and d.



1. (C) Summary: An eight-member delegation of the Archons of
the Ecumenical Patriarchate, a New York-based Greek Orthodox
group, met with three GOT ministers in Ankara and discussed
the continued closure of the Halki Seminary and other
problems confronting the Ecumenical Patriarchate. The
Archons and the Ambassador asserted that the Patriarchate
will not survive in Turkey unless the problems are resolved.
The Ministers said the GOT is seeking ways within Turkish law
to open Halki and loosen other restrictions. They said it
would be easier for the GOT to improve relations with the
Greek Orthodox community in Turkey if Greek authorities would
loosen restrictions on the Turkish minority in Thrace. The
MFA tried to prevent Embassy from arranging Cabinet-level
meetings for the Archons. End Summary.


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Archons Hold Meetings, Luncheon
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2. (U) After spending three days in Istanbul, the Archons met
in Ankara February 9 with Education Minister Celik, Interior
Minister Aksu, and State Minister Aydin. They also held a
luncheon in honor of the Ambassador, attended by Turkish
parliamentarians, scholars, journalists, and NGO
representatives. They received a plaque from an organization
representing the spouses of police officers killed in the
line of duty, in recognition of their USD 3,000 donation.


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Survival of Patriarchate at Stake
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3. (U) Anthony Limberakis, leader of the Archon delegation,
told each of the ministers that the Archons are concerned
about three issues: 1) The continued closure of the Halki
seminary (the GOT shut down the seminary, on Heybeli Island
in the Sea of Marmara, in 1971 when it nationalized all
private institutions of higher learning); 2) restrictions on
the right of the Patriarchate to acquire and own property;
and 3) GOT interference in the Patriarchal succession process
(the GOT requires that the Patriarch be a Turkish citizen).
The Ambassador, who participated in the meetings, said the
survival of the Patriarchate in Istanbul is ultimately at
stake. Turkey's Greek Orthodox community has dwindled to
about 2,500. Under current conditions, the Patriarchate
might have to be relocated in the near future, perhaps to
Moscow. This would not be in the interests of the U.S. or
Turkey. A number of U.S. senators and congressmen are
concerned about this possibility.


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Options for Reopening Halki Discussed
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4. (U) The ministers all expressed support for the survival
of the Patriarchate in Istanbul and the eventual reopening of
Halki. They said they are optimistic that the GOT and the
Patriarchate will develop a more positive relationship. Aydin
averred that the Patriarchate is a long-standing, historic
Turkish institution that must be preserved. Celik noted that
Halki operated under Ottoman sultans, and said it was
"unacceptable" that a modern, secular government is keeping
it closed. He said an ad hoc Education Ministry committee
formed under his direction recently completed a study on how
Halki could be reopened. According to the study, the
seminary could be reopened, 1) as a secondary school attached
to the Education Ministry, like a number of existing Greek
high schools; 2) as a faculty of a Turkish University; or 3)
as a two-year high school attached to a foundation. The
study is being reviewed by other branches of the GOT. These
ideas are opposed by some elements of the Turkish State. If
the study wins broad support, the options will be presented
to the Patriarchate. However, if the Patriarchate continues
to insist on having sole authority over Halki, it will be
difficult to reopen the seminary. Turkish law requires that
all schools, public or private, be under Education Ministry
authority. If the GOT makes an exception for Halki, than all
the Islamic groups will want independent high schools as
well.


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GOT: Thracian Turks Also Face Problems
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5. (U) Each of the ministers indicated that it would be
politically easier for the GOT to loosen restrictions on the
Patriarchate if the Greek government and Orthodox Church
would do the same for the Turkish minority in Greece. They
claimed Greece has not opened the mosque in Athens, and
Turkish Muslims in Greek Thrace are not allowed to elect
their mufti. Reverend Karloutsos, assistant to U.S.
Archbishop Demetrios, said the Archons met with the
Archbishop of Athens in November and urged him to support
greater religious freedom for the Turkish community in
Greece. However, Karloutsos argued, the two issues should
not be linked directly -- the Greek Orthodox in Istanbul are
Turkish citizens and their rights should not depend on the
status of Turks in Greece.


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Comment - MFA Tries to Block Meetings
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6. (C) Embassy had to work around the MFA to arrange
Cabinet-level meetings for the Archons. The MFA responded to
our official request for meetings with FM Gul and other
ministers by saying they were unavailable, and instead
offering the acting director of the Directorate of Religious
Affairs. We arranged the Celik, Aksu, and Aydin meetings at
the last minute through unofficial channels. An MFA official
attended the Aksu meeting, occasionally interjecting
unhelpful comments into the conversation. At one point, he
told the Archons that the Turkish minority in Greece has
"real problems," compared to the "minor" problems facing the
Patriarchate in Istanbul. Last year, the Archons' only
Ankara meeting was with MFA Deputy U/S Ilkin; the Archons
told us they did not want to meet with Ilkin again this year
because he "humiliated" them last time.


EDELMAN