Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05ISTANBUL1977
2005-11-18 08:15:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Istanbul
Cable title:  

ARMENIAN PATRIARCH AT ODDS WITH ECUMENICAL

Tags:  PGOV PHUM 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 001977 

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/17/2015
TAGS: PGOV PHUM TU
SUBJECT: ARMENIAN PATRIARCH AT ODDS WITH ECUMENICAL
PATRIARCH OVER EDUCATION ISSUES AND HALKI

REF: 04 ISTANBUL 401

Classified By: 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 001977

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/17/2015
TAGS: PGOV PHUM TU
SUBJECT: ARMENIAN PATRIARCH AT ODDS WITH ECUMENICAL
PATRIARCH OVER EDUCATION ISSUES AND HALKI

REF: 04 ISTANBUL 401

Classified By: Consul General Deborah K. Jones for reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).


1. (C) In the course of responding to a routine visa
inquiry from the Istanbul-based Armenian Patriarch Mesrob II,
CG noted his absence at the November 7 opening session of a
conference hosted by the Ecumenical Patriarch and the New
York-based Appeal of Conscience (septel). Mesrob's
representative delivered his greetings, which began by noting
that His Beatitude had not received a conference program in a
timely manner, and thus could not attend.


2. (C) Mesrob did cite miscommunication about the program
schedule to CG November 8, but added that he thought the
Greek Orthodox community might be "a little annoyed" with the
Armenians and other minority communities in Turkey for
favoring a university solution for the theological training
issue. He asserted that the "insistence on the Heybeliada
(Halki) private school is politically not so feasible, will
create a lot of unrest, and a 1,800 people community should
not really make things more difficult for over 100,000
Christians in the country," adding that since he had been
more public on this issue recently, he may have "exasperated
the Greek hierarchy." Mesrob said he planned to write to the
Ecumenical Patriarch with views on possible solutions and
proposals for the theological education issue. (Note:
Visiting Armenian Archbishop Barsamian, in town for the
Appeal of Conscience conference (septel),had told CG that
Mesrob was supportive of a university level solution,
mentioning that His Beatitude has raised the topic at a
November 8 Appeal of Conscience conference dinner. While
acknowledging Mesrob's preference, Barsamian opined that
opening Halki should be noncontroversial for the GOT. End
note.)


3. (C) Mesrob went on to note the size of each Christian
community in Turkey, "according to a report that was
published some months ago": Armenians, 68,000, plus some
30,000 from Armenia illegally working in menial jobs; Jews,
22,000; Suryanis, 12,000; Arab Orthodox, 4,000; Catholics,
4,000; Protestants, 3,500; Greeks, 1,800.


4. (C) Comment: This is not the first time Mesrob has
expressed his preference for a university level solution; he
told us last year (reftel) he intended to work with Turkey's
Higher Education Council (YOK) to create a theological
faculty to train future Armenian priests for two years only,
though we are not aware of any action on this. He said at
the time the financial burden of re-opening seminaries, too,
is considerable. What does appear to be new is the level of
frustration he is expressing about what he perceives as
intransigence on the part of the Ecumenical Patriarchate
about Halki. End comment.
JONES