SUCCESSION ISSUE: PRIORITY AND LIFELINE FOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ISTANBUL 001478 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SE E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/16/2016 TAGS: PGOV PHUM TU SUBJECT: SUCCESSION ISSUE: PRIORITY AND LIFELINE FOR ECUMENICAL PATRIARCHATE REF: A. 08-11-06 MORRISON-MCELDOWNEY E-MAIL ¶B. ISTANBUL 1302 ¶C. 05 ISTANBUL 1825 ISTANBUL 00001478 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: Acting Principal Officer Sandra Oudkirk for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: Patriarchate senior advisor, Metropolitan Meliton of Philadelphia, stressed to us during an introductory meeting on August 16 that the priority issue for the Ecumenical Patriarchate was the succession of the Patriarch. He noted that Turkish citizenship requirements for any potential successor and Government of Turkey (GOT) refusal to discuss the issue were the Church's greatest concerns, presumably because they threaten the survival of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, itself. Meliton also voiced concerns about the Russian Orthodox Church taking advantage of this situation in order to promote Moscow's Third Rome ambitions. End Summary. ¶2. (C) Meliton began by expressing his appreciation for U.S. support and referred to the very positive dialogue during the August 9 meeting between United States-based Patriarchate Archons and U/S Burns (ref A). While he agreed that the Halki seminary proposal discussed with U/S Burns was promising, he stressed that the Church's primary concern was ensuring a succession process for the Ecumenical Patriarch that is free from government interference and that enables church officials to choose the most highly qualified candidate. (Note: Although these requirements have been overlooked in the past, GOT directives require that the Patriarch be a Turkish citizen living in Turkey at the time of his election and that church officials who vote in the election hold Turkish citizenship. End Note.) He specified that while His All Holiness Bartholomew is in good health, only 15 bishops meet the GOT requirements for voting and succession; most are advanced in age and one is currently hospitalized. It is unclear whether recently selected members of the Holy Synod who are not Turkish nationals would be permitted to participate in an election of a new Ecumenical Patriarchate. The GOT did not challenge the selection of the foreign Synod members in a move PM advisor Davutoglu described to DAS Bryza as a confidence building measure (ref B). ¶3. (C) According to Meliton, the current GOT administration signaled a willingness to resolve this issue when it first came to power in 2002, however it is currently promoting a "let's cross that bridge when we get to it" policy, refusing to have further discussions until the time to elect a new Patriarch actually presents itself. (Note: Turkish Government directives require that a new Patriarch be elected within eight days. End Note.) Meliton further claimed that the Patriarchate has yet to receive a response to a draft proposal it presented to the GOT subsequent to the latter's request during a January 10, 2004 meeting. Specifically, the Patriarchate proffered that the GOT allow succeeding Patriarchs to obtain Turkish citizenship post-election. Meliton also alluded to the GOT possibly agreeing three months ago to an Armenian Orthodox Church proposal on citizenship requirements for its Patriarchs. ¶4. (C) Finally, echoing previously articulated conspiracy theories, Meliton expressed his concern regarding the Russian Orthodox Church's ambitions to make Moscow the Third Rome. He pointed to Interfax agency reports of the Moscow-based Patriarchate's alleged attempts to expand its presence and influence in East Asia; specifically, by opening a new church in North Korea and by increasing cooperation with the Chinese government regarding the restoration of a church located on the grounds of the Russian Embassy in Beijing. Meliton implied that GOT intransigence plays into the hands of the Russian Orthodox Church and its associated aggressive growth. ¶5. (C) Comment: Though Meliton stressed the Turkish citizenship aspect of the succession issue as the Patriarchate's priority, his initial comments regarding the Halki Seminary proposal are in line with the Ecumenical Patriarch's message to DAS Bryza (ref B) and reflect a change from an opinion he gave to EUR/SE Director Silliman in October 2005 (ref C),in which he expressed little hope ISTANBUL 00001478 002.2 OF 002 for the GOT's willingness and resolve to move this issue forward. While resolution of the Halki Seminary issue is vital to sustain the Greek Orthodox Church in Turkey in the long term, the citizenship issue is critical in the short to medium term. The Patriarchate believes that resolution of all other GOT disputes will become moot if the succession issue can not be resolved. End Comment. OUDKIRK