Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04ISTANBUL975
2004-06-21 08:32:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Istanbul
Cable title:  

HALKI: REAL PROGRESS AT LAST?

Tags:  PHUM PGOV TU 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L ISTANBUL 000975 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/17/2014
TAGS: PHUM PGOV TU
SUBJECT: HALKI: REAL PROGRESS AT LAST?

Classified By: Consul General David Arnett for reasons 1.5 (b & d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L ISTANBUL 000975

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/17/2014
TAGS: PHUM PGOV TU
SUBJECT: HALKI: REAL PROGRESS AT LAST?

Classified By: Consul General David Arnett for reasons 1.5 (b & d)


1. (C) Summary and Comment: The Ecumenical Patriarchate,
having learned through a variety of sources that the
government is reportedly working to reopen the Halki
Seminary, is optimistic this could happen in September.
According to the Patriarchate, the proposal purportedly under
development by the government would be the most forthcoming
to date, but still would not open the school to foreign
seminarians. Government officials so far are not able to
confirm that any new proposals are in the works. Previously,
the Patriarchate has refused to budge from its red lines on
this issue. This latest optimism suggests that they may be
inclined to pocket this offer, if it comes, and to continue
working to redress outstanding concerns. At the same time,
coming just before the NATO Summit and the President's visit,
the GOT may be hoping to use this opportunity to look good
and make progress on this long-standing issue. End Summary.


2. (C) In a June 18 meeting at the Ecumenical Patriarchate,
Metropolitan Meliton of Philadelphia (the Ecumenical
Patriarch's de facto Chief of Staff) told poloff he is
optimistic about the chances for Halki Seminary being opened
in September, and he confirmed that Ecumenical Patriarch
Bartholomew I told the press that the Orthodox seminary would
be opened in the new academic year, as reported June 17 in
the Turkish daily Cumhuriyet. According to Meliton, the
Patriarch met last week with Prime Ministry officials after
participating in a court case involving a dismissed Bulgarian
priest, and learned that the government is preparing a
solution in which Halki Seminary would be opened directly
under the Ministry of Education, rather than as part of a
university under the control of the Higher Education Council
(YOK). The Metropolitan received a similar message last week
from unnamed MFA sources.


3. (C) Such a proposal would ease a major stumbling block in
resolving the issue, as the Patriarchate has demanded that
the school be opened under its former, largely independent,
status. The catch, however, is that from what Patriarchate
officials have heard, the school would be opened only for
Turkish citizens. In light of the dwindling numbers of Greek
Orthodox in Turkey (approximately 2000-3000),opening Halki
for Turkish citizens only would be just a first step and not
a sustainable solution for the long term, according to
Meliton. Nevertheless, "this is good," he said. If the
school is to be opened, "now is the time," he said, "with the
visit of President Bush." The Patriarchate is still working
out its exact response to a possible government announcement,
Meliton said, but his general reaction appeared to be
positive.


4. (C) If the offer is made, the school could open as early
as September, and thus the Patriarchate would have to get
busy this summer in order to be ready to open it. As it
stands now, at least four individuals would be ready and
qualified to serve as staff members, including Meliton
himself. The budget for the school would come from the
Patriarchate, he said.


5. (C) Following this meeting, emboffs spoke with several
Education Ministry officials in Ankara, but were unable to
confirm that any new proposals for reopening Halki were in
the works. A diplomat from the MFA Department of Greek
Affairs said he "could not confirm or deny" the reports on
Halki. On June 20, Radikal daily quotes YOK Chairman Tezic
himself as raising problems with Halki Seminary falling under
YOK (as GOT has repeatedly proposed),and suggesting instead
that Halki Seminary would be most appropriately supervised by
the Ministry of Education. For this to happen, Radikal added
that some legislative reforms would be required.
ARNETT