ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH: MORE CONCERNED ABOUT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ISTANBUL 000595

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/24/2018
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL AA OSCE TU
SUBJECT: ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH: MORE CONCERNED ABOUT
RUSSIANS THAN TITLE OF ECUMENICITY

REF: A. ISTANBUL 238

B. ANKARA 1373

C. ISTANBUL 381

Classified By: Consul General Sharon A. Wiener for reasons 1.4 (b,d).


1. (C) Summary: Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I
congratulated the United States on the election of its new
president, discussed the Patriarchate's potential
reacquisition of the Buyukada Orphanage as well as hoped for
reforms from the Justice and Development Party (AKP) and his
views on the developing relationship between Armenia and
Turkey during a November 24 meeting with Consul General.
Bartholomew also commented on what he perceives to be the
political implications of recent requests by the Russian
Patriarch to place orthodox priests at Russian diplomatic
posts in Turkey. Notably, he also said he does not see a
need for a discussion of the GOT's recognition of the
ecumenical status of the Patriarchate and that the GOT does
not impose legal restrictions on his use of that title. End
Summary.

Future of Buyukada Orphanage in Hands of ECHR
--------------


2. (SBU) Responding to a question about the July 8 European
Court of Human Rights (ECHR) judgment in favor of the
Ecumenical Patriarchate and against the GOT in a case
concerning the Patriarchate's title to a former orphanage
that had been annulled by the Turkish authorities (Ref C),
Bartholomew pointed out that the decision was unanimous and
included a vote by the Turkish member of the court. He
explained that by not responding within the three months
provided, the GOT forfeited its opportunity to appeal the
ECHR decision. The Patriarchate will now present a case to
the ECHR seeking the return of the property rather than
monetary compensation from the GOT. Bartholomew said the
Patriarchate will propose that the former orphanage be
converted into a facility to house two centers: one for
environmental studies and the other for interfaith dialogue.
Strasbourg will consider the proposal when making its
decision regarding the property.


3. (C) Responding to the Consul General's inquiry about
whether he remained optimistic about the new Greek Archbishop
Ieronymos' role in improving relations with the government of
Greece, Bartholomew called the Archbishop a good man who
loves and respects the Patriarchate. He said the Muslims in
Greece "must be happy" because the Government of Greece pays
great attention to minorities and recently forgave $20
million of Muslim foundations' debt. Bartholomew estimated
the number of Muslims in Greece at 130,000, but refused to
make comparisons between the populations of Muslims of Thrace
and the Greeks of Turkey. (Comment: Historically, the GOT
has cited the need for improved treatment of the Muslim
("Turkish") minority in Thrace before it will consider taking
reciprocal actions regarding Halki Seminary or other rights
for the Greek Orthodox population in Turkey. End comment.)

Waiting for Reform Action by AKP
--------------


4. (C) Bartholomew acknowledged that the favorable court
decision for the AKP in July has not resulted in concrete
progress with regard to the reopening of the Halki Seminary
or reacquisition of property from the GOT. Despite this lack
of action, Bartholomew said he still has hopes for positive
results for religious minorities. "We count always on the
goodwill of the present government. I can say that all
minorities feel that the present AKP government is better
than a CHP government." Other parties are courting the
minority vote as well. He explained that in the run up to
the municipal elections, the candidates from every party
generally visit the Patriarchate to pull in the minority
vote. The CG observed that Nur Memecen is the AKP MP
currently responsible for the islands on which Halki Seminary
and other Patriarchate property is located. Remarking on
Memecan's understanding the importance of interfaith dialogue
and appreciation for freedom of religion given her time in
the United States, the CG recommended that the Patriarchate
contact her about its concerns.

Armenia and Visiting Cardinal Kaspar's Comments on Genocide
-------------- --------------


5. (C) Bartholomew expressed happiness about the developing
dialogue between the governments of Turkey (GOT) and Armenia.
While in Armenia recently, he met privately with Armenian

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President Sargsyan to congratulate him on his successful
meeting with the Turkish President Gul. He encouraged him to
continue the relationship, saying he hoped the two countries
would exchange diplomats soon. In the ongoing discussion
related to the tragic events of 1915, the Turkish media
recently aired comments by Cardinal Kaspar, president of the
Pontifical Council, in which he emphasized that the Holy See
regards Armenian allegations of genocide as reality. Noting
that Kaspar will be attending the Feast of St. Andrew at the
Patriarchate on November 30, Bartholomew said Kaspar may
"face some difficulties" during his visit but does not
believe extra security will be necessary. (Note: The Turkish
press has not reported on Kaspar's participation in the
feast.)

Pan-Orthodox Synod and "Expansionist" Requests by Russian
Patriarch
-------------- --------------


5. (SBU) The Patriarchate is participating in the
preparations for a pan-orthodox synod, and Bartholomew said
the planning committee will meet in Geneva in March 2009. The
committee has yet to set a date for the synod, but
Bartholomew commented on the planning process' positive
progress toward unity in the orthodox world.


6. (C) Following a private meeting with the Russian
Patriarch in Kiev, Bartholomew said the relationship with the
Russian Orthodox Church has improved but described some
recent challenges. The Russian Patriarch requested
permission to appoint a priest to the Russian Consulate
General in Istanbul, a position that would provide diplomatic
status for the priest. Bartholomew responded to the
patriarch saying that the Russians at the Consulate can
instead attend mass at the Russian Church in Karakoy, a
neighborhood in central Istanbul. The Russian Patriarch also
requested to post a priest to the Russian Embassy in Ankara -
a request Bartholomew said he also denied, noting that "at
the Embassy they would be more than priests and would use
their diplomatic status and religion for other purposes in
the spirit of expansionism and imperialism." He said he
informed the Holy See of the Russian Patriarch's requests.

No Need for Discussion on Ecumenical Status
--------------


7. (C) The AKP has not engaged in a discussion about the
ecumenical status of the patriarchate, according to
Bartholomew, and he explained that he does not see a need for
such a discussion. He related that Greek PM Karamanlis asked
about the GOT's recognition of the Patriarch's ecumenicity
and both PM Erdogan and Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said it
was a matter concerning the Orthodox Church and not the GOT.
According to Bartholomew, he uses the ecumenical title
within the Church because it comes from the 6th Century, and
emphasized that there is no practical impact of the
Government's perspective and no legal prohibition on his use
of the title. The important part, he contended, is that he
is recognized as the Ecumenical Patriarch by his peers in
orthodoxy following the tradition of his predecessors.


8. (C) Comment: The GOT's continued refusal to open Halki
Seminary despite conciliatory actions by the GOG involving
its Muslim minority-indicated by PM Erdogan in prior comments
as a prerequisite for GOT action - shows that additional
variables influence its decision to keep the seminary closed.
(Bartholomew invited the Consul General to visit Halki
during the Patriarch's Kurban Bayram stay there.) However,
Bartholomew points to areas of cooperation under the AKP,
including their shared preference that the issue of the
Patriarchate's ecumenicity be kept of out of the political
realm. Addressing issues such as the ecumenical status would
draw attention away from needed progress in areas where
political discussion would be beneficial, namely the
reopening of Halki Seminary. End Comment.
WIENER