Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ANKARA6447
2006-11-17 16:22:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:  

DIYANET SEES POPE'S VISIT TO TURKEY AS OPPORTUNITY

Tags:  PGOV PHUM PREL OSCE TU 
pdf how-to read a cable
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DE RUEHAK #6447/01 3211622
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 171622Z NOV 06
FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9983
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUEKDAI/DIA WASHDC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J-3/J-5//
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
RUEUITH/ODC ANKARA TU//TCH//
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RUEUITH/TLO ANKARA TU
RUEHAK/TSR ANKARA TU
RUEHAK/USDAO ANKARA TU
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 006447 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/15/2021
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL OSCE TU
SUBJECT: DIYANET SEES POPE'S VISIT TO TURKEY AS OPPORTUNITY
FOR RECONCILIATION

REF: A. ISTANBUL 2084


B. ISTANBUL 2081

C. ISTANBUL 1749

Classified By: Political Counselor Janice G. Weiner for reasons 1.4(b),
(d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 006447

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/15/2021
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL OSCE TU
SUBJECT: DIYANET SEES POPE'S VISIT TO TURKEY AS OPPORTUNITY
FOR RECONCILIATION

REF: A. ISTANBUL 2084


B. ISTANBUL 2081

C. ISTANBUL 1749

Classified By: Political Counselor Janice G. Weiner for reasons 1.4(b),
(d)

1.(SBU) Summary: The GOT sees Pope Benedict XVI's November
28-December 1 visit to Turkey as a chance to heal wounds and
improve relations between Christians and Muslims. Turkey's
Directorate of Religious Affairs (the "Diyanet") is
optimistic that the Pope's initial public remarks will smooth
the controversy that arose out of his September remarks in
Regensburg, Germany, and will set a positive tone for the
remainder of the trip. While the GOT and Vatican Embassy are
downplaying the possibility of disruptive demonstrations,
their preparations make it clear they are taking no chances.
Demonstrations on some scale are indeed likely. This third
official Papal visit to Turkey comes at a time of rising
nationalism and anti-Western sentiment among Turks. Both
Turkey and the Vatican appear ready to capitalize on this
opportunity to help advance inter-religious dialogue and
reduce simmering tensions between Christian and Muslim
communities, assuming disruptive events do not get in the
way. End summary.

--------------
The Pope's Itinerary
--------------


2. (U) Pope Benedict XVI will begin his first visit to a
predominantly Muslim country on November 28 in Ankara, where
he will visit Ataturk's mausoleum (a requirement for all VIP
visitors),pay a courtesy visit to President Sezer, meet with
Diyanet President Ali Bardakoglu, and then give a joint press
conference with Bardakoglu. The Diyanet meeting will
reportedly also include ten cardinals, five Diyanet
officials, three Turkish muftis, and the President of
Turkey's Supreme Council for Religious Matters. The Pope
also will speak to the diplomatic corps at the Vatican
Embassy.


3. (U) After leaving Ankara, the Pope will begin his
private, unofficial visit, according to Vatican Embassy First
Secretary Monsignor Christophe El-Kassis. On November 29,

SIPDIS

the Pope will visit with Catholic groups in Izmir, and then
celebrate mass with approximately 2,000 worshipers at
Ephesus, where by tradition the home of the Virgin Mary is
located. After the mass, the Pope will travel to Istanbul.


4. (U) In Istanbul, the Pope will participate in a "prayer
visit" with Greek Orthodox Patriach Bartholomew II, and then
attend a Byzantine mass led by the Patriarch at the
patriarchal church of St. George. Following the mass, the
Pope will give a speech and then sign a joint declaration
with the Partriarch. The event will mark a significant
rapprochement between the two churches, which split in 1054
in what is known as the "Great Schism." The Pope will also
visit the Church of Holy Wisdom "Hagia Sophia", now a museum,
and meet with Armenian Patriarch of Istanbul Mesrob II at the
Armenian cathedral. He is also scheduled to meet the
Syro-Orthodox Patriarch and the Chief Rabbi of Turkey.

5. (U) The MFA and Vatican Embassy have both downplayed the
fact that PM Erdogan will not be in Turkey during the visit.
MFA Protocol Department Head Hasan Asan told us that prior to
the announcement of the Pope's visit the PM had plans to
attend the November 28-29 NATO Summit in Riga. Vatican
Embassy First Secretary El-Kassis told us there is no
symbolic slight because President Sezer will receive the Pope
as Head of State.


6. (U) Diyanet Vice President Gormez told us the visit's
significance is evident from the intense press attention his
program is attracting. Vatican Embassy and the GOT expect
approximately 2000 accredited journalists and accompanying
staff to travel to Turkey to cover the visit.

-------------- --------------
Diyanet Optimistic That Papal Visit Will Help Heal Wounds
-------------- --------------


ANKARA 00006447 002 OF 002



7. (SBU) Our GOT contacts expect that the Pope's November 28
public remarks following his meeting with Diyanet President
Bardakoglu will set a positive tone for the trip. Bardokoglu
fiercely criticized the Pope's controversial remarks made
during a September speech in Regensburg, Germany. According
to Bardakoglu, the Pope's quotation of Emperor Manuel II
Paleoglogos of the Byzantine Empire showed an attitude that
"fuels division and lack of mutual trust, (and) is seriously
threatening world peace." Although the Pope later expressed
regret that offense was taken at his speech, "the healing is
not complete, and any slightly negative message could disrupt
a very sensitive Turkish society," Diyanet Vice President
Gormez told us. Gormez expressed optimism, however, that the
Pope will deliver a positive, healing message at the outset
of his visit.

--------------
Possible Disruptions Downplayed
--------------


8. (C) The GOT and the Vatican Embassy have not ruled out
possible demonstrations. Both believe that ultra-nationalist
groups may organize protests in an attempt to ignite tensions
that might hinder Turkey's EU membership process. Many of
our NGO contacts echoed these sentiments. Human Rights NGO
Mazlum-Der Vice Chair Ayhan Bilgen told us in a November 5
meeting that he believes that a diverse array of nationalists
could try to use the visit to drive a wedge between Turkey
and the EU. Bilgen does not expect, however, that these
groups will be able to pull together a large-scale, organized
demonstration.


9. (C) Security remains a priority. MFA's Asan told us that
the GOT is closely cooperating with the Vatican advance
teams, which have already visited Turkey twice. Vatican
Embassy's El-Kassis told us that since the controversy
regarding the Pope's September remarks in Germany, the GOT
has stepped up its already good cooperation. El-Kassis said
his mission was reassured when the Turkish police recently
sent 150 police to secure the embassy during an 80-person
demonstration.


10. (C) Comment: Although there have been two prior papal
visits to Turkey -- in 1968 and 1979 -- this visit comes at a
particularly sensitive moment, when rising nationalism is
fueling anti-Western sentiment among Turks. The public's
support for EU membership stands at an all-time-low, and
opposition to the West at an all-time-high. Moreover,
Turkey's EU candidacy is approaching a delicate point, with
the possible suspension of a number of acquis chapters.
While the Pope's visit originally may have been centered on
outreach to the Greek Orthodox Patriarch, his Regensburg
remarks shifted the focus to repairing the rent between the
Christian and Muslim communities. A successful papal visit
would open the way for both Turkey and the Vatican to move
beyond the Pope's remarks, and could help heal two "schisms"
by initiating greater dialogue among religions -- Roman
Catholic and Greek Orthodox, Christian and Muslim. End
comment.

Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/

WILSON