US embassy cable - 05ISTANBUL1844

C O N F I D E N T I A L ISTANBUL 001844 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SE 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/23/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, TU, Istanbul 
SUBJECT: ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH PUBLICLY HIGHLIGHTS CONCERNS 
 
REF: A. ANKARA 5599 
 
     B. 04 ISTANBUL 843 
 
Classified By: Consul General Deborah K. Jones for reasons 1.4 (b) and 
(d). 
 
1. (U)  Summary: Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew raised 
publicly October 20 his inability to use his ecumenical title 
in Turkey and the continued lack of dialogue with the Turkish 
government on such key issues as reopening Halki Seminary. 
Turkish press gave wide coverage to the remarks, which were 
delivered at a meeting between the Patriarchate and European 
People's parties.  In response, AKP Deputy Chair Saban Disli 
claimed his party's government was open to dialogue and that 
the Prime Minister would respond favorably to any request for 
an appointment.  Disli also stressed the government's desire 
to open Halki, but rejected use of the ecumenical title, 
arguing that under the Lausanne Treaty the Patriarch is 
simply leader of Turkey's minority Orthodox population.  End 
Summary. 
 
2.  (U)  Challenging the Status Quo: Throughout the October 
20 meeting, many EU participants used the "Ecumenical" title, 
while Hans-Gert Pottering, leader of the Christian Democratic 
group in the European Parliament, warned that "islamophobia" 
(note: a term used by PM Erdogan at the September Meeting of 
Civilizations in Hatay) would increase if Halki Seminary were 
not reopened. 
 
3.  (C)  Comment:   The exchange between Disli and 
Bartholomew at the meeting may be the closest thing to dialog 
that has occurred since a January 2004 meeting between the 
Patriarchate and a delegation from an Ankara-based 
inter-ministerial commission (ref B).  Whether emboldened by 
October 3 to force the issue, or believing there was simply 
nothing to lose, Bartholomew used language that was stronger 
than usual for his Istanbul (as opposed to European) 
audience, and placed the ecumenical status issue among his 
chief concerns.  While Lausanne is often cited as precluding 
use of the ecumenical title, it in fact makes no reference to 
the issue.  Perhaps coincidentally, another event may soon 
generate similar "E Word" headlines:  the November 7-9 Appeal 
of Conscience conference, co-sponsored by the Patriarchate to 
promote interfaith dialogue, at which the Charge is expected 
to deliver greetings (ref A). 
JONES