US embassy cable - 05ISTANBUL1977

C O N F I D E N T I A L ISTANBUL 001977 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SE 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/17/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, TU, Istanbul 
SUBJECT: ARMENIAN PATRIARCH AT ODDS WITH ECUMENICAL 
PATRIARCH OVER EDUCATION ISSUES AND HALKI 
 
REF: 04 ISTANBUL 401 
 
Classified By: Consul General Deborah K. Jones for reasons 1.4 (b) and 
(d). 
 
1.  (C)  In the course of responding to a routine visa 
inquiry from the Istanbul-based Armenian Patriarch Mesrob II, 
CG noted his absence at the November 7 opening session of a 
conference hosted by the Ecumenical Patriarch and the New 
York-based Appeal of Conscience (septel).  Mesrob's 
representative delivered his greetings, which began by noting 
that His Beatitude had not received a conference program in a 
timely manner, and thus could not attend. 
 
2.  (C) Mesrob did cite miscommunication about the program 
schedule to CG November 8, but added that he thought the 
Greek Orthodox community might be "a little annoyed" with the 
Armenians and other minority communities in Turkey for 
favoring a university solution for the theological training 
issue.  He asserted that the "insistence on the Heybeliada 
(Halki) private school is politically not so feasible, will 
create a lot of unrest, and a 1,800 people community should 
not really make things more difficult for over 100,000 
Christians in the country," adding that since he had been 
more public on this issue recently, he may have "exasperated 
the Greek hierarchy."  Mesrob said he planned to write to the 
Ecumenical Patriarch with views on possible solutions and 
proposals for the theological education issue.  (Note: 
Visiting Armenian Archbishop Barsamian, in town for the 
Appeal of Conscience conference (septel), had told CG that 
Mesrob was supportive of a university level solution, 
mentioning that His Beatitude has raised the topic at a 
November 8 Appeal of Conscience conference dinner.  While 
acknowledging Mesrob's preference, Barsamian opined that 
opening Halki should be noncontroversial for the GOT.  End 
note.) 
 
3.  (C)  Mesrob went on to note the size of each Christian 
community in Turkey, "according to a report that was 
published some months ago":  Armenians, 68,000, plus some 
30,000 from Armenia illegally working in menial jobs; Jews, 
22,000; Suryanis, 12,000; Arab Orthodox, 4,000; Catholics, 
4,000; Protestants, 3,500; Greeks, 1,800. 
 
4.  (C) Comment:  This is not the first time Mesrob has 
expressed his preference for a university level solution; he 
told us last year (reftel) he intended to work with Turkey's 
Higher Education Council (YOK) to create a theological 
faculty to train future Armenian priests for two years only, 
though we are not aware of any action on this.  He said at 
the time the financial burden of re-opening seminaries, too, 
is considerable.  What does appear to be new is the level of 
frustration he is expressing about what he perceives as 
intransigence on the part of the Ecumenical Patriarchate 
about Halki.  End comment. 
JONES