TURKEY: GREEK ORTHODOX ARCHONS CLAIM ECUMENICAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 002886

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/03/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL OSCE TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY: GREEK ORTHODOX ARCHONS CLAIM ECUMENICAL
PATRIARCHATE SUFFOCATING UNDER SNAIL-PACED REFORMS

REF: A. ISTANBUL 996

B. ISTANBUL 638

Classified By: Ambassador Ross Wilson, reasons 1.4 (b),(d)


1. (C) Summary: Turkish government policies are slowly
suffocating the Ecumenical Patriarchate (EP),according to
representatives of the Archons of the Ecumenical
Patriarchate, a U.S.-based group of Greek Orthodox laymen.
In November 29 meetings, the delegation told Turkish
officials crawling reforms have not ended State interference
in the EP's election, training of clergy, expropriation of
church properties, or denial of legal status to the EP. The
recent "vandalism" by Ministry of Forestry officials of a
centuries old church on Heybeli Island (ref A) was the latest
example of harassment of Turkey's Greek Orthodox minority.
Ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Vice Chair Egemen
Bagis told the Archons more time is needed to continue AKP's
ambitious reforms that inevitably will help broaden religious
freedom. MFA U/S Ertugrul Apakan promised to reevaluate
issues surrounding the election of the Patriarchate and Holy
Synod, but cautioned the Archons to not expect sudden,
revolutionary changes. He called on the Archons to use their
influence to help improve the situation of the Muslim
minority in Greece, but stressed that the GOT does not link
the two issues. Though frustrated by the lack of high-level
access during this trip, the Archons continue to see dialogue
with the GOT as an important component of their overall
strategy to defend the survival of the Patriarchate. End
summary.

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Archons Highlight Continuing Problems
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2. (C) Archons Anthony Limberakis, Christopher Stratakis, and
George Rockas visited Ankara November 29 to discuss four main
problems the EP continues to face. First, the GOT's
requirement that only a Turkish citizen residing in Turkey
may serve as Ecumenical Patriarch severely impedes the
Patriarchate's ability to freely elect its Patriarch.
Turkey's Greek Orthodox community has dwindled to
approximately 2,000, and there is no available successor in
Turkey to replace aging Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I.
Second, the Patriarchate is unable to train new clergy
because the Halki Seminary has been closed since 1971, when
Turkey nationalized all private institutions of higher
learning. Third, the State continues to expropriate Greek
Orthodox properties. Fourth, the GOT continues to deny legal
personality to the Patriarchate, as evidenced by the Court of
Appeal's (Yargitay's) July ruling that rejected the
ecumenicity of the Patriarchate (ref B). The Archons called
on the GOT to take concrete steps toward resolving each of
these problems, and to rectify the recent destruction of
church property on Heybeli Island by Ministry of Forestry
officials (ref A).

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AKP Counsels Patience
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3. (C) AKP's Egemen Bagis told the Archons that AKP had done
much to modernize Turkish society but needed more time to
implement changes. Bagis noted that the Muslim population
also has concerns; pious Muslim women are not allowed to wear
Islamic headscarves on university campuses. He urged the
Archons to be patient and trust in the AKP's good will. In
Bagis' opinion, most of the issues are related to reciprocity
-- it is difficult to grant broader rights to Turkey's Greek
Orthodox minority unless Athens improves conditions for
Western Thrace's Turkish Muslim minority, he stated. On
Halki, Bagis believed the issue would have been solved if the
Patriarch been "a bit less stubborn" and accepted PM
Erdogan's suggested path. Limberakis praised AKP's
progressive stance on overall economic and legal reform, but
said improvements on religious freedom had been coming at "a
snail's pace." The very survival of the Patriarchate is at
stake, he noted. Stratakis said the GOT should recognize the
Patriarchate as a "treasure of Turkey," a centuries-old
institution providing spiritual leadership to tens of
millions of Orthodox faithful worldwide. Bagis told the

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Archons their support for Turkey on the Armenian genocide
resolution, trade, or other issues would provide political
cover as AKP tries to improve the Patriarchate's situation.
Limberakis said the Archons frequently support Turkey's EU
accession bid and stand ready to help in other areas.

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Foreign Ministry Promises Reevaluation
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4. (C) In a separate meeting, U/S Apakan told the Archons
that Patriarch Bartholomew is a citizen and friend of Turkey;
the GOT is trying hard to solve the problems related to the
Patriarchate's survival. The GOT demonstrated its goodwill
in 2004 when it allowed six non-Turkish Metropolitans to be
elected to the Holy Synod. Limberakis recognized the
positive step but wondered whether future governments would
similarly turn a blind eye without a legal guarantee. Apakan
underlined the GOT's stance on the use of the "Ecumenical"
title: the GOT does not interfere with the Patriarchate's
ability to freely use the title in its religious affairs but
will not legally recognize the title. Apakan agreed to
ensure the election issues are reevaluated with a "pragmatic
mindset". He cautioned the Archons not to expect sudden or
big changes. Noting that the GOT does not link the two
issues, Apakan encouraged the Archons to use their influence
to urge Athens to improve the situation of Greece's Muslim
minority in Western Thrace.

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Request for Diyanet's Assistance
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5. (C) Limberakis told Directorate of Religious Affairs
(Diyanet) Vice President Izzet Er the Archons appreciate the
Diyanet's moderate views and efforts to promote peace among
religions. He asked for the Diyanet's assistance in
encouraging the GOT to ensure the survival of the
Patriarchate. Er responded that the Diyanet is in constant
dialogue with the EP and supports efforts to have places of
worship for all religions. However, the Diyanet does not
directly get involved in political matters. DCM encouraged
the Diyanet to use the positive dialogue to solve
time-sensitive issues such as Halki Seminary in the near
term. Limberakis urged the Diyanet to leverage its
well-respected reputation to promote concrete progress.

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EU - Coming Out of A Stall?
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6. (C) European Commission political counselor Diego Mallado
told the Archons that Turkey had made no progress on human
rights reforms in the past year. On religious freedom, the
EU documented some backsliding, including an accelerated
expropriation process. The EU expected concrete progress in
2008, including re-passage of the Foundations Law to improve
the property rights of religious minorities. Mallado said
the draft law is imperfect -- it does not solve the issue of
return of properties expropriated and then sold to third
parties -- but is an important first step. Mallado noted the
EU had set a new benchmark requiring the GOT take concrete
steps on freedomon of expression, including amendment of
Penal Code Article 301 (insulting Turkishness),before the EU
would open negotations on the fundamental rights chaper.
Commenting that the EU's ability to influence the GOT would
depend largely on popular support in Turkey for EU accession,
Mallado asked for Archons' support in convincing Europeans to
support Turkey's membership. Limberakis said the Archons
strongly support Turkey's accession and would continue to
explain to their contacts the importance of including Turkey
in the EU.

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Vandalism of Historic Monastery
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7. (C) In all meetings, the Archons lambasted the Ministry of
Forestry workers who had "vandalized" the centuries old
"Church of the Transfiguration," a small monastery on the
same island as Halki Seminary. An Archon had donated money

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for renovation of the monastery, only to see the windows and
walls of the building bashed in by "thugs," Limberakis said.
Bagis and his AKP colleagues had heard nothing of the issue,
and could not understand how it could have happened (although
Turkish media covered it widely). Bagis promised immediately
to look into the situation. At the MFA, Ambassador Haydar
Berk said the EP had not obtained the proper legal permission
to make such renovations. Ambassador interjected that even
if that were the case, the appropriate recourse should be an
injunction, not smashing up the structure. Apakan told the
Archons an investigation is ongoing, and assured them that
relevant authorities would renovate the building. At the
Diyanet, DCM noted the Istanbul Governor had stopped the
destruction as soon as he learned of it. She encouraged the
Diyanet to help convince the Governor to continue his
positive actions by conveying to him the cultural importance
of protecting and restoring the building.


8. (C) Comment: The Archons did not disguise their
disappointment in the lack of concrete reforms since their
2004 meetings with the then-Ministers of Foreign Affairs,
Education, and Interior. They interpreted the GOT's failure
to grant similar high-level access on this trip as a serious
snub, and a sign of the GOT's lack of sincerity on its stated
promise to help preserve the Patriarchate. Still, the
Archons found some silver-lining in Bagis' assurances that
constitutional reform would improve the situation for
Turkey's minorities, and Apakan's clarification that the GOT
does not link the issues of Athens' treatment of Muslims with
Ankara's treatment of the Greek Orthodox. Despite some
frustrations, the Archons said their visits complement
efforts to pressure the GOT through legal mechanisms, and
will remain an important component of their overall strategy
to defend the survival of the Patriarchate. End comment.

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

WILSON