ACTING ARMENIAN PATRIARCH SHARES HESITANT HOPE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ISTANBUL 000039 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/18/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM OSCE TU AM SUBJECT: ACTING ARMENIAN PATRIARCH SHARES HESITANT HOPE WITH DAS BRYZA REF: 08 ANKARA 2118 ISTANBUL 00000039 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: Consul General Sharon A. Wiener for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary. Acting Armenian patriarch Archbishop Atesyan explained the security threats facing Istanbul's Armenian community had decreased significantly since the murder of prominent Turkish Armenian journalist Hrant Dink two years earlier. But, during a courtesy call with DAS Matthew Bryza on January 17 Atesyan said he has little hope for the lightening of antagonism toward the Armenian Turkish community until the AKP "solves" Ergenekon. The Archbishop cited continued property rights concerns with the GOT, and noted that the Patriarchate and Turkish Armenian community prefers to solve such problems domestically without going to the ECHR. While the recent apology campaign led by Turkish intellectuals demonstrates a greater openness to dialogue about the events of 1915 - 1923, he said that the Turkish Armenian community continues to refrain from talking about the massacre because of domestic sensitivities. End summary. ¶2. (SBU) The Archbishop said that while the members of the Turkish Armenian community in Istanbul face no personal problems as Christians, the community itself is challenged to support itself due to the confiscation of its income-earning properties. The Government did not compensate the community for the properties it seized and often sold to third parties in the last 90 years, he said. "Without income from these properties, we may have to close one of the Armenian schools." Since the passing of the amended Foundations Law in February 2008, the community has received 50 of the 300 properties it seeks to be returned. He explained that while the recent ECHR decisions regarding two properties represented a success for the community, it prefers to dialogue with the GOT and General Directorate of Foundations to solve problems domestically without going to the ECHR. Responding to a question about the leverage the EU has on minority relations in Turkey, the Archbishop noted that while the AKP pays attention to the EU and focuses on minorities, especially because it is a religious party, its opponents prevent the AKP from imple menting too many changes. ¶4. (C) The Archbishop categorized the Turkish Armenian community as security conscious but rather free in Istanbul, but lamented that the two thousand members who live outside of Istanbul are unable to openly acknowledge that they are ethnically Armenian or Christian for fear of discrimination and physical harm. The recent apology campaign that has garnered over 27,000 signatures will not reduce their fear nor the ignorance of the Turkish people, he said. (Note: the Armenian Patriarchate issued a press statement encouraging "good neighborly relations between Turkey and Armenia and that history should be left to history" in response to the apology campaign. End note.) It is not the responsibility of the people to apologize, the Archbishop said, but that of the government. He suggested that while he has no hope for this generation of Turks to be more open to its ethnically Armenian compatriots, in a few generations "we might see more open minds." A distinct decrease in prosecutions for addressing the events of 1915-1923 over the last five years gives the Archbishop some hope, he said. The Turkish Armenian community continues to refrain from talking about the massacre, because "it is not good for us." ¶5. (C) While the Turkish Armenian community desires openness between Armenia and Turkey, the Archbishop claimed that the Armenian Diaspora will not let it happen. "They are our nationalist side." However, he does not expect the Armenian Genocide Resolution to pass under the new Obama administration because "we know Turkey is more important to America than Armenia." If Turkey were to open its border with Armenia, the Archbishop explained that the local Anatolians and the Armenians in Armenia would be excited by the trade opportunities and ease of travel. Even if the border were opened, he was not optimistic that such a diplomatic move would reduce the tension felt by the 68,000 members of the Turkish Armenian community. ¶6. (C) Responding to Bryza's question about whether the magnitude of the apology campaign will put pressure on the government to allow for greater discussion of its history and further, the Archbishop noted that the GOT has its own problems to address first before it can make significant advances in that arena. Specifically, he said, the GOT will ISTANBUL 00000039 002 OF 002 only be able to address issues like monetary compensation and restitution after it deals with Ergenekon. "The AKP can do nothing without solving Ergenekon." ¶7. (C) Comment. The Archbishop stuck to standard talking points when addressing the Armenian Genocide Resolution, the community's property concerns, and his praise of the AKP's efforts despite opposition. This is the first time a representative from the Patriarchate addressed the Ergenekon case and the role it will play in the AKP's ability to address the concerns of minority religious populations in Turkey. While the Patriarchate remains at odds with the apology campaign, noting that it is not in their interest to discuss the massacre, it represents a significant step forward in opening domestic discussion of Turkey's past. End Comment. ¶8. DAS Bryza has cleared this cable. Wiener