US embassy cable - 04ANKARA6229

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 006229 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SE 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/03/2014 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, PHUM, TU 
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES HALKI WITH EDUCATION MINISTER 
 
REF: ANKARA 895 
 
Classified By: Classified by Ambassador Eric S. Edelman; reasons 1.4 b 
and d. 
 
1. (U) Summary: During an October 26 meeting, the Ambassador 
recommended that Education Minister Celik engage in a 
dialogue with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew on the 
re-opening of the Halki Seminary.  The Ambassador told Celik 
that progress on Halki would bolster Turkey's image in the 
run-up to the December EU Summit, and strengthen the Greek 
Orthodox Patriarchate, an institution that has been in Turkey 
for centuries.  A flourishing Patriarchate would symbolize 
Turkey's commitment to religious freedom.  Celik said he 
personally favors reaching an agreement to re-open the 
seminary, but elements of the State bureaucracy are opposed. 
Moreover, progress on Halki will remain politically difficult 
as long as the Greek Government refuses to loosen 
restrictions on the Turkish minority in Western Thrace.  The 
Ambassador also informed Celik that the USG plans a 
significant increase in the Fulbright program for Turkey. 
End Summary. 
 
---------------------------- 
Options for Re-Opening Halki 
---------------------------- 
 
2. (U) The Ambassador recalled that in February (reftel) 
Celik said the Education Ministry was studying the 
possibility of allowing the Ecumenical Patriarchate's Halki 
Seminary to re-open as either: 1) a secondary school attached 
to the Education Ministry; 2) a faculty of a Turkish 
university; or 3) a two-year high school attached to a 
foundation.  (Note: The Halki Seminary, on Heybeli Island in 
the Sea of Marmara, has been closed since 1971, when the GOT 
nationalized all private institutions of higher learning. 
End Note).  Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew has told us he 
has no objection in principle to having Halki placed under 
the aegis of the Education Ministry -- as it was before it 
was closed -- as long as it is permitted to carry out its 
mission of training clergy.  This would mean, for example, 
that the Patriarchate would maintain control of the 
curriculum, and the seminary would be allowed to enroll 
foreign students.  The Ambassador asked whether the Education 
Ministry been discussing the matter with the Patriarchate. 
 
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Legal, Political Obstacles 
-------------------------- 
 
3. (C) Celik averred that he personally favors reaching an 
agreement on re-opening Halki, as do PM Erdogan and FM Gul. 
However, the issue is sensitive within the State bureaucracy 
and among the general public.  There are legal issues 
relating to the 1923 Lausanne Treaty.  Celik argued that it 
is difficult for the GOT to loosen restrictions on the 
Patriarchate while the Greek Government refuses to change its 
approach to the Turkish minority in Western Thrace.  He 
claimed that ethnic Turks in Thrace cannot give Turkish names 
to their foundations and cannot elect their own muftus.  "If 
this were not a two-sided issue, I would move to resolve it 
immediately," Celik said, adding that he has made his 
position clear in meetings with the Greek Education Minister. 
 The fact that Patriarch Bartholomew claims to be an 
"ecumenical" leader -- though the GOT does not recognize his 
ecumenical status -- while the Turks in Thrace are denied 
religious freedom is very controversial among Turks.  The 
Turkish side is always asked to compromise, while the Greeks 
are not asked to do anything.  Still, Celik claimed he favors 
reaching an agreement on re-opening Halki even before 
resolving the problems of the Turks in Thrace.  If such a 
decision is made at the State level, he averred, he could 
have the seminary re-opened in 24 hours.  At the same time, 
he said, some voices within EU circles are making the problem 
more difficult by implying that resolving the Halki issue is 
a pre-condition for opening accession talks.  Such comments 
provoke resistance within Turkey to reaching a settlement. 
 
------------------------- 
Ambassador Urges Dialogue 
------------------------- 
 
4. (C) The Ambassador noted that PM Erdogan raised the issue 
of the Muslim minority, diplomatically, when he visited 
Greece.  He also acknowledged the legal and political 
concerns surrounding the Halki issue.  At the same time, 
progress on Halki in the run-up to the December EU Summit 
would positively influence the internal EU debate on Turkey. 
On Cyprus, Turkey took a bold step by supporting the Annan 
Plan without tying its decision to a reciprocal step by the 
other side.  Although the Greek Cypriots rejected the plan, 
the GOT did not suffer a setback.  Instead, the GOT succeeded 
in removing Cyprus as a potential obstacle to Turkey's EU 
candidacy.  The GOT should consider taking a similarly bold 
step on Halki.  The Ambassador recommended Celik speak with 
Patriarch Bartholomew, a man of good will and an advocate of 
Turkey's EU candidacy.  The Patriarch is willing to be 
flexible, and could help with issues relating to the Thracian 
Turks.  Although the Patriarch's ecumenical status may not be 
recognized in the Lausanne Treaty, millions of Orthodox 
Christians around the world regard him as their leader.  The 
Patriarchate, which has been in Turkey since Byzantine times, 
is a great asset for Turkey.  A flourishing Patriarchate 
would signal Turkey's commitment to religious freedom.  On 
the other hand, if the Patriarchate were to languish, it 
could lose influence to other Orthodox institutions outside 
of Turkey, such as the Russian Orthodox Church. 
 
5. (U) Celik agreed that the Patriarchate is important for 
Turkey.  He said he has spoken with Patriarch Bartholomew in 
the past and would be happy to do so again -- when he has 
something new to tell him.  However, there are no new 
developments on Halki since their last conversation.  Celik 
said he will share the Ambassador's views with PM Erdogan and 
FM Gul. 
 
----------------- 
Archons Returning 
----------------- 
 
6. (U) The Ambassador thanked Celik for meeting in February 
with an eight-member delegation of the Archons of the 
Ecumenical Patriarchate, a New York-based Greek Orthodox 
group, to discuss Halki and other issues (reftel).  He noted 
that the Archons plan to return to Ankara in December, and 
would like to meet with PM Erdogan if possible.  He hoped 
Celik would also be available to meet with them. 
 
--------------------------- 
Minister Aids Greek Schools 
--------------------------- 
 
7. (U) On a separate but related point, Celik said Patriarch 
Bartholomew had raised with him transportation problems 
concerning Greek schools in Istanbul.  Some transportation 
companies had refused to transport students to the schools. 
Celik said he canceled the contracts of the non-compliant 
companies and resolved the problem. 
 
------------------------------------- 
Pending Increase in Fulbright Program 
------------------------------------- 
 
8. (U) The Ambassador told Celik the USG is preparing to make 
a significant increase in the Fulbright program for Turkey, 
and will look for the GOT to increase its contribution as 
well.  Celik said educational and cultural exchanges are 
essential for building trust and understanding between 
nations.  He said the image of the U.S. in Turkey and the 
developing world has been deteriorating recently.  He said 
the USG could be more effective in its efforts to bolster 
that image; for example, the British Council appears to be 
accomplishing more around the world than any U.S. agency. 
The Ambassador said the upcoming increase in the Fulbright 
program is an effort toward that goal. 
 
------- 
Comment 
------- 
 
9. (C) Though the GOT has been examining the Halki issue for 
some time, it has clearly decided it does not yet want to 
take on the political challenges required for a solution. 
Elements of the State bureaucracy oppose any loosening of 
restrictions on the Patriarchate, and public opinion is 
indifferent at best.  Having failed to deliver on issues 
important to its more hardline, Islamist supporters -- such 
as the headscarf ban -- GOT leaders lack political cover to 
move on Halki.  We will continue to urge our high-level 
contacts that religious freedom for non-Muslims is a crucial 
element of the reform process. 
 
10. (C) We have consistently rejected any link between the 
rights of the Greek Orthodox in Turkey and the rights of the 
Turkish minority in Western Thrace.  Turkey's Greek Orthodox 
are Turkish citizens, whose rights do not depend on the 
status of ethnic Turks living abroad.  Nevertheless, we would 
be interested in Embassy Athens' views on the status of the 
Turkish community in Western Thrace. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
EDELMAN