UNDER SECRETARY HUGHES' ISTANBUL MEETINGS WITH

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ISTANBUL 001723

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KPAO TU
SUBJECT: UNDER SECRETARY HUGHES' ISTANBUL MEETINGS WITH
RELIGIOUS LEADERS

REF: ANKARA 2750

Sensitive but Unclassified -- not for internet distribution.


1. (SBU) Summary: During her 24-hour visit to Istanbul,
Under Secretary Hughes met with religious leaders
representing a range of confessions and exchanged views on
how extremism can most effectively be counteracted. All
stressed the need to combat the underlying causes of
extremism, including poverty and lack of access to education.
In a separate call on Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I,
Hughes emphasized that religious freedom remains at the
center of our dialogue with Turkey, and that we continue to
push the Turkish government to address those issues
threatening the Patriarchate's future in Istanbul. End
Summary.

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Interfaith Dialogue
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1. (SBU) U/S Hughes met September 28 with religious leaders
from six different faith communities (Muslim, Armenian
Orthodox, Jewish, Greek Orthodox, Syrian Orthodox and
Catholic) to discuss the role religious leaders can play in
promoting intertaith dialogue and tolerance in the world. In
brief opening remarks, the Under Secretary praised Turkey's
rich cultural mosaic and pointed to tourists she'd seen side
by side from Texas and Bahrain exploring Istanbul's Topkapi
Palace as illustrations of the unique opportunity Turkey
presents in bringing people together from all parts of the
world. She highlighted our government's desire to expand
exchange opportunities between the people of the U.S. and
Turkey, and asked the faith leaders for their views on other
ways to promote tolerance and interfaith understanding.


2. (SBU) In their responses, U/S Hughes' interlocutors
focused on the need to combat poverty and promote access to
education as the only ways to foster peace and understanding.
They argued their efforts to contribute to these goals
cannot be fruitful if politicians don't play their part by
developing good policies. Reverend Father Dositheos,
representing the Ecumenical Patriarchate, accused politicians
throughout history of having abused religion to divide
people, and Istanbul Mufti Cagrici called on faith leaders to
launch "Holy Peace" rather than a holy war. Chief Rabbi
Haleva explained that Turks are a very pious people, who are
very affected by images they see on television. In trying to
understand the minds of those who choose to die by
perpetrating terrorist attacks, Armenian Patriarch Mesrob
underlined that when there is no hope to live, suicide is
easy. Some choose to die to make a point, he said, so that
others might live after them. "What can we do to give these
people hope?" he asked.


3. (SBU) U/S Hughes agreed that combatting poverty is an
important policy priority and pointed to the U.S. having
tripled its funding to Africa and leading the fight against
AIDS as a sign of our common purpose. She also highlighted
the meeting she and Deputy U/S Powell held recently with the
World Food Program officials to discuss how the U.S. can do
more to combat hunger. As a government official and as a
person of faith, she said, her job is not just "public
relations," but contributing to policies than positively
affect people's lives.


4. (SBU) In the background of the dialogue was the fact that
the religious minorities around the table, while able to
worship freely, face significant property and administrative
problems in maintaining their communities (reftel). Only the
Catholic representative in Istanbul, Monsignor Marovitch,
alluded directly to these issues. Comparing Turkey's peoples
to the bouquet of flowers covering the table, the Monsignor
observed that "there are many flowers in Turkey and should be
a place for the small ones as well." He acknowledged that
with the EU process change is underway and that the GOT needs
time to work things out. Rabbi Haleva said his community's
problems had largely been solved by the EU process, and that
his community lived comfortably among the "noble and
compassionate" Turkish people.

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Meeting with the Ecumenical Patriarch
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5. (SBU) In a subsequent call on Ecumenical Patriarch
Bartholomew on September 29, Under Secretary Hughes thanked
His All Holiness for sending a representative to the
interfaith dialogue, and solicited his personal advice for
combatting the spread of extremism among the younger
generation, particularly in the Muslim world. Conveying the
President's best wishes, U/S Hughes also stressed that
religious freedom issues remain front and center in our
dialogue with the Government of Turkey. Bartholomew
expressed appreciation for the U.S. government,s
longstanding support for the Patriarchate and religious
freedom, and promised to pray for the success of the Under
Secretary,s mission, terming it critical for the world,s

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future. He noted that he has worked extensively on
interfaith initiatives, and believes the key is to reach out
to moderate Muslims and to seek to give the young "ideas and
vision for their future."


6. (SBU) Regarding the Patriarchate,s future, Bartholomew,
who was joined by Father Alex Karloutsos from the Orthodox
Church in America, stressed the critical importance of his
See, the "first among equals" in the Orthodox world, for the
Orthodox church as a whole. Only the Patriarch, he observed,
is able to coordinate among the different leaders of
Orthodoxy, and he noted that he had convened his peers
earlier this year to address the crisis in the Patriarchate
of Jerusalem Bartholomew summarized the range of challenges
facing the Ecumenical Patriarchate, including continued
closure of Halki Seminary, property issues, and its lack of
legal standing under Turkish law. He noted his belief that
Turkey,s current government is decisively pushing a
"moderate path" on these and other issues, as was evidenced
by its support for the holding of last weekend,s conference
on the Armenian tragedy of 1915. He argued, however, that
that other statist elements are impeding a solution to the
problems confront the Patriarchate. He expressed
appreciation for the USG,s strong support of the
Patriarch,s Ecumenical nature and said it "fortifies us and
gives us courage." Hughes pledged that the USG will remain
dedicated to securing resolution of these issues.


7. (SBU) Comment: Under Secretary Hughes' interfaith dialogue
and her call on the Patriarch highlighted efforts by Turkey's
diverse communities to find common ground and build mutual
tolerance and respect, despite significant tensions as they
struggle to preserve their deeply rooted communities. End
Comment.
JONES