Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05ISTANBUL1766
2005-10-12 10:52:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Istanbul
Cable title:  

ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH: OCTOBER 3 PROVIDES NEW

Tags:  PHUM PGOV TU 
pdf how-to read a cable
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 001766 

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/10/2015
TAGS: PHUM PGOV TU
SUBJECT: ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH: OCTOBER 3 PROVIDES NEW
CONTEXT FOR MINISTER CELIK'S HALKI REMARKS

REF: A. ISTANBUL 1680


B. ISTANBUL 1579

C. 04 ISTANBUL 975

D. 04 ANKARA 6229

Classified By: U.S. CONSUL GENERAL DEBORAH K. JONES FOR REASONS 1.4 (B)

AND (D).

C O N F I D E N T I A L ISTANBUL 001766

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/10/2015
TAGS: PHUM PGOV TU
SUBJECT: ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH: OCTOBER 3 PROVIDES NEW
CONTEXT FOR MINISTER CELIK'S HALKI REMARKS

REF: A. ISTANBUL 1680


B. ISTANBUL 1579

C. 04 ISTANBUL 975

D. 04 ANKARA 6229

Classified By: U.S. CONSUL GENERAL DEBORAH K. JONES FOR REASONS 1.4 (B)

AND (D).


1. (C) Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew told CG October 9
that he was optimistic regarding Education Minister Celik's
remarks to Milliyet newspaper last week that he would "open
the (Halki) seminary overnight" if it were up to him.
Bartholomew acknowledged the Minister's having uttered
similar phrases in the past. He considered his remarks more
significant this time, however, viewed in the context of
October 3 and Istanbul's recent hosting of a conference on
the Armenian question (ref a) and its earlier photo exhibit
re-examining the anti-Greek riots of 1955 (ref b).
Bartholomew averred that "Turkey is entering a new phase,
positive changes are taking place" and suggested that the
Minister's remarks were being floated to test public opinion
prior to taking any big steps. Nonetheless, the Ecumenical
Patriarch acknowledged he had been engaged in no private
discussions with the GOT to resolve any of the outstanding
issues, and asked that we continue to press for Halki's
reopening on his terms.


2. (C) Comment: Celik has implied on several previous
occasions that if left to his own devices he would resolve
the long-standing Halki issue, but was impeded by others from
doing so. The last time the Patriarchate evinced any
optimism regarding Halki was last June (ref c),in the lead
up to the NATO Summit and POTUS visit to Istanbul. At that
time, even Higher Education Council (YOK) Chairman Tezic
suggested that Halki would more appropriately be supervised
by the Ministry of Education than by YOK -- a sentiment the
Patriarch shares -- but press reports said legislative
reforms would be necessary for that to happen. More than a
year later, we have seen no steps in that direction or
anything else to warrant the Patriarch's current guarded
optimism. End comment.
JONES