ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH DISMISSES ACCOUNTS OF SECRET

C O N F I D E N T I A L ISTANBUL 000124 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/10/2018 TAGS: PHUM KIRF PGOV TU SUBJECT: ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH DISMISSES ACCOUNTS OF SECRET STAFF SHAKE UP Classified By: Consul General Sharon A. Wiener for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (SBU) Summary. According to March 11 press reports, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew disputed accounts that he had shaken up his staff over damaging leaks to the Greek press and alleged internal maneuverings by two senior advisors to influence the election of his successor. Mainstream Hurriyet, which broke the story, claims Bartholomew cited a need for younger representation on his staff and health reasons as the true factors behind the changes. Patriarchate officials have thus far not responded to our calls. Our experience with one of the affected advisors suggests either account could be true. End summary. ¶2. (SBU) Turkish press reported on March 10 that Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew dismissed his top two advisors last week in a move interpreted as intended to cement his administrative authority over the patriarchate's hierarchy. Bartholomew reportedly fired the director of his private office, Metropolitan Dimitrios, over the latter's suspected internal maneuverings to set himself up as the leading candidate to succeed Bartholomew as Ecumenical Patriarch. Bartholomew also allegedly dismissed the patriarchate's chief of staff equivalent - and our principal contact on religious freedom issues concerning the Ecumenical Patriarchate - Metropolitan Meliton for supporting Dimitrios and for compromising the patriarchate's position vis-a-vis the GOT and the Russian Orthodox Church through damaging leaks to the Greek press. ¶3. (SBU) According to a March 11 report in mainstream Hurriyet, Bartholomew disputed accounts of a "secret war" at the patriarchate, citing them as fabrications of the Greek press. While acknowledging the two Metropolitans had stepped aside in their administrative capacities, he claimed the two will maintain their religious responsibilities. The report further cites Bartholomew as stating Dimitrios was replaced because he had been in the position for over 15 years and the Patriarch sought a younger perspective. Meliton, on the other hand, allegedly submitted his resignation from his position as chief of staff because his many responsibilities at the patriarchate taxed his health. ¶4. (C) Comment. We were unable to confirm these reports as our calls to the patriarchate have, thus far, gone unanswered. Though we are not familiar with Dimitrios, it is true that Meliton did not always see eye to eye with Bartholomew. Unlike the usually hopeful Patriarch, Meliton frequently shared with us his pessimism concerning the government's actions and attitude and subscribed to conspiracy theories concerning the GOT and the Russian Orthodox Church. Since his responsibilities included talking to international observers about religious freedom challenges facing the Ecumenical Patriarchate, it is certainly possible that Bartholomew believed his senior advisor overstepped his bounds in this capacity. It is also true that Meliton looked significantly older and frailer than his 56-years would suggest and had recently suffered from ill health. End comment. WIENER