US embassy cable - 05ISTANBUL1766

C O N F I D E N T I A L ISTANBUL 001766 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SE 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/10/2015 
TAGS: PHUM, PGOV, TU, Istanbul 
SUBJECT: ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH:  OCTOBER 3 PROVIDES NEW 
CONTEXT FOR MINISTER CELIK'S HALKI REMARKS 
 
REF: A. ISTANBUL 1680 
 
     B. ISTANBUL 1579 
     C. 04 ISTANBUL 975 
     D. 04 ANKARA 6229 
 
Classified By: U.S. CONSUL GENERAL DEBORAH K. JONES FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) 
 
 AND (D). 
 
1.  (C)  Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew told CG October 9 
that he was optimistic regarding Education Minister Celik's 
remarks to Milliyet newspaper last week that he would "open 
the (Halki) seminary overnight" if it were up to him. 
Bartholomew acknowledged the Minister's having uttered 
similar phrases in the past.  He considered his remarks more 
significant this time, however, viewed in the context of 
October 3 and Istanbul's recent hosting of a conference on 
the Armenian question (ref a) and its earlier photo exhibit 
re-examining the anti-Greek riots of 1955 (ref b). 
Bartholomew averred that "Turkey is entering a new phase, 
positive changes are taking place" and suggested that the 
Minister's remarks were being floated to test public opinion 
prior to taking any big steps.  Nonetheless, the Ecumenical 
Patriarch acknowledged he had been engaged in no private 
discussions with the GOT to resolve any of the outstanding 
issues, and asked that we continue to press for Halki's 
reopening on his terms. 
 
2.  (C)  Comment: Celik has implied on several previous 
occasions that if left to his own devices he would resolve 
the long-standing Halki issue, but was impeded by others from 
doing so.  The last time the Patriarchate evinced any 
optimism regarding Halki was last June (ref c), in the lead 
up to the NATO Summit and POTUS visit to Istanbul.  At that 
time, even Higher Education Council (YOK) Chairman Tezic 
suggested that Halki would more appropriately be supervised 
by the Ministry of Education than by YOK -- a sentiment the 
Patriarch shares -- but press reports said legislative 
reforms would be necessary for that to happen.  More than a 
year later, we have seen no steps in that direction or 
anything else to warrant the Patriarch's current guarded 
optimism.  End comment. 
JONES