AMBASSADOR'S FOLLOW-UP WITH ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH

C O N F I D E N T I A L ISTANBUL 000234

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/21/2017
TAGS: PHUM PGOV TU
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S FOLLOW-UP WITH ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH

REF: A. ISTANBUL 0120

B. ISTANBUL 0136

C. ISTANBUL 0212

D. ISTANBUL 0162

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


1. (C) Summary: Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I
reiterated Patriarchate grievances against the GOT to
Ambassador during a March 16 meeting intended to follow-up
recent USG discussions with the Patriarchate and GOT
officials. His All Holiness expressed hope that progress
would be made after this year's parliamentary elections but
remained skeptical, questioning why the government had not
done anything earlier when elections were not an obstacle.
Ambassador reaffirmed USG support for the Patriarchate and
his personal commitment to continue efforts to resolve these
issues. End summary.


2. (C) Fresh off a trip to Vienna, where the Catholic
Archbishop presented him with the Franz Koenig peace prize,
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew reiterated the problems
facing the Greek Orthodox community in Turkey. Reciting a
list of familiar grievances against the GOT (e.g., inability
to re-open Halki Seminary, lack of juridical personality,
lack of recognition for the ecumenical title and numerous
property disputes among others),Bartholomew said he feared
the community would not survive very long with these
problems.


3. (C) Bartholomew, for the first time, flagged as a
priority the problem of foundation board elections. He
stated that deaths, departures and resignations over a
15-year period had left gaps in the administrative boards of
community foundations, making it difficult for local parishes
to resolve problems associated with schools, hospitals and
other properties. The Patriarch added that reforms
instituted in 2004 permitted elections to take place but only
with the permission of the Governor of Istanbul. One parish
was able to hold elections as a result of the 2004 reforms
but the Governor has denied all subsequent parish
applications to hold elections.


4. (C) Expressing disappointment with the ruling Justice and
Development Party (AKP),the Patriarch explained he had been
optimistic when AKP came to power because he believed it was
a party that had respect for religion. He lamented that his
hopes for resolutions to the Patriarchate's problems had not
borne fruit. Though he understood it would be difficult for
the government to make decisions that could appear to be
concessions during an election year, he questioned why
nothing had been done years earlier when elections were not
an issue. Still, Bartholomew remained hopeful that if the
Prime Minister felt confident enough after elections, there
might still be reason for optimism regarding the potential
for positive changes.


5. (C) Referring to the state of minority affairs in the
wake of the Hrant Dink assassination, Bartholomew told
Ambassador the Armenian Patriarch for Istanbul and all of
Turkey Mesrob II had told him that he fears for the security
of the Armenian community, in particular school children.
Echoing statements we've heard recently from our
Turkish-Armenian contacts, the Ecumenical Patriarch stated
that Mesrob had told him many within the community were
thinking about leaving Turkey (ref A). Bartholomew said that
he had not personally received threats.


6. (C) Ambassador assured the Patriarch that both he and
Washington continue to work on resolving these issues. He
noted he had several recent conversations with advisors to
the Prime Minister regarding the plight of the Church and
cited recent EUR DAS Bryza discussions on the re-opening of
Halki Seminary with both the Patriarch (ref B) and with the
Deputy Governor of Istanbul (ref C).


7. (C) Comment: The problem concerning foundation board
elections stems from the fact that many parishes do not have
sufficient members to nominate candidates to the boards from
within their local communities. The 2004 reforms permitted
candidates to be nominated from outside of the local
community with the permission of the Governor. Though the
Patriarch claims he has not personally received threats,
Patriarchate staff informed us last month of threats directed
against Greek Orthodox clergy (ref D). End comment.
JONES