US embassy cable - 04ISTANBUL975

C O N F I D E N T I A L ISTANBUL 000975 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/17/2014 
TAGS: PHUM, PGOV, TU, Istanbul 
SUBJECT: HALKI:  REAL PROGRESS AT LAST? 
 
Classified By: Consul General David Arnett for reasons 1.5 (b & d) 
 
1.  (C)  Summary and Comment:  The Ecumenical Patriarchate, 
having learned through a variety of sources that the 
government is reportedly working to reopen the Halki 
Seminary, is optimistic this could happen in September. 
According to the Patriarchate, the proposal purportedly under 
development by the government would be the most forthcoming 
to date, but still would not open the school to foreign 
seminarians.  Government officials so far are not able to 
confirm that any new proposals are in the works.  Previously, 
the Patriarchate has refused to budge from its red lines on 
this issue.  This latest optimism suggests that they may be 
inclined to pocket this offer, if it comes, and to continue 
working to redress outstanding concerns.  At the same time, 
coming just before the NATO Summit and the President's visit, 
the GOT may be hoping to use this opportunity to look good 
and make progress on this long-standing issue.  End Summary. 
 
2.  (C)  In a June 18 meeting at the Ecumenical Patriarchate, 
Metropolitan Meliton of Philadelphia (the Ecumenical 
Patriarch's de facto Chief of Staff) told poloff he is 
optimistic about the chances for Halki Seminary being opened 
in September, and he confirmed that Ecumenical Patriarch 
Bartholomew I told the press that the Orthodox seminary would 
be opened in the new academic year, as reported June 17 in 
the Turkish daily Cumhuriyet.  According to Meliton, the 
Patriarch met last week with Prime Ministry officials after 
participating in a court case involving a dismissed Bulgarian 
priest, and learned that the government is preparing a 
solution in which Halki Seminary would be opened directly 
under the Ministry of Education, rather than as part of a 
university under the control of the Higher Education Council 
(YOK).  The Metropolitan received a similar message last week 
from unnamed MFA sources. 
 
3.  (C) Such a proposal would ease a major stumbling block in 
resolving the issue, as the Patriarchate has demanded that 
the school be opened under its former, largely independent, 
status.  The catch, however, is that from what Patriarchate 
officials have heard, the school would be opened only for 
Turkish citizens.  In light of the dwindling numbers of Greek 
Orthodox in Turkey (approximately 2000-3000), opening Halki 
for Turkish citizens only would be just a first step and not 
a sustainable solution for the long term, according to 
Meliton.  Nevertheless, "this is good," he said.  If the 
school is to be opened, "now is the time," he said, "with the 
visit of President Bush."  The Patriarchate is still working 
out its exact response to a possible government announcement, 
Meliton said, but his general reaction appeared to be 
positive. 
 
4.  (C) If the offer is made, the school could open as early 
as September, and thus the Patriarchate would have to get 
busy this summer in order to be ready to open it.  As it 
stands now, at least four individuals would be ready and 
qualified to serve as staff members, including Meliton 
himself.  The budget for the school would come from the 
Patriarchate, he said. 
 
5.  (C)  Following this meeting, emboffs spoke with several 
Education Ministry officials in Ankara, but were unable to 
confirm that any new proposals for reopening Halki were in 
the works.  A diplomat from the MFA Department of Greek 
Affairs said he "could not confirm or deny" the reports on 
Halki.  On June 20, Radikal daily quotes YOK Chairman Tezic 
himself as raising problems with Halki Seminary falling under 
YOK (as GOT has repeatedly proposed), and suggesting instead 
that Halki Seminary would be most appropriately supervised by 
the Ministry of Education.  For this to happen, Radikal added 
that some legislative reforms would be required. 
ARNETT