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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ISTANBUL 000595 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/24/2018 
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL AA OSCE TU
SUBJECT: ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH: MORE CONCERNED ABOUT 
RUSSIANS THAN TITLE OF ECUMENICITY 
 
REF: A. ISTANBUL 238 
     ¶B. ANKARA 1373 
     ¶C. ISTANBUL 381 
 
Classified By: Consul General Sharon A. Wiener for reasons 1.4 (b,d). 
 
¶1.  (C) Summary:  Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I 
congratulated the United States on the election of its new 
president, discussed the Patriarchate's potential 
reacquisition of the Buyukada Orphanage as well as hoped for 
reforms from the Justice and Development Party (AKP) and his 
views on the developing relationship between Armenia and 
Turkey during a November 24 meeting with Consul General. 
Bartholomew also commented on what he perceives to be the 
political implications of recent requests by the Russian 
Patriarch to place orthodox priests at Russian diplomatic 
posts in Turkey.  Notably, he also said he does not see a 
need for a discussion of the GOT's recognition of the 
ecumenical status of the Patriarchate and that the GOT does 
not impose legal restrictions on his use of that title. End 
Summary. 
 
Future of Buyukada Orphanage in Hands of ECHR 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
¶2.  (SBU) Responding to a question about the July 8 European 
Court of Human Rights (ECHR) judgment in favor of the 
Ecumenical Patriarchate and against the GOT in a case 
concerning the Patriarchate's title to a former orphanage 
that had been annulled by the Turkish authorities (Ref C), 
Bartholomew pointed out that the decision was unanimous and 
included a vote by the Turkish member of the court. He 
explained that by not responding within the three months 
provided, the GOT forfeited its opportunity to appeal the 
ECHR decision. The Patriarchate will now present a case to 
the ECHR seeking the return of the property rather than 
monetary compensation from the GOT.  Bartholomew said the 
Patriarchate will propose that the former orphanage be 
converted into a facility to house two centers: one for 
environmental studies and the other for interfaith dialogue. 
Strasbourg will consider the proposal when making its 
decision regarding the property. 
 
¶3. (C) Responding to the Consul General's inquiry about 
whether he remained optimistic about the new Greek Archbishop 
Ieronymos' role in improving relations with the government of 
Greece, Bartholomew called the Archbishop a good man who 
loves and respects the Patriarchate. He said the Muslims in 
Greece "must be happy" because the Government of Greece pays 
great attention to minorities and recently forgave $20 
million of Muslim foundations' debt.  Bartholomew estimated 
the number of Muslims in Greece at 130,000, but refused to 
make comparisons between the populations of Muslims of Thrace 
and the Greeks of Turkey.  (Comment: Historically, the GOT 
has cited the need for improved treatment of the Muslim 
("Turkish") minority in Thrace before it will consider taking 
reciprocal actions regarding Halki Seminary or other rights 
for the Greek Orthodox population in Turkey. End comment.) 
 
Waiting for Reform Action by AKP 
-------------------------------- 
 
¶4.  (C) Bartholomew acknowledged that the favorable court 
decision for the AKP in July has not resulted in concrete 
progress with regard to the reopening of the Halki Seminary 
or reacquisition of property from the GOT.  Despite this lack 
of action, Bartholomew said he still has hopes for positive 
results for religious minorities.  "We count always on the 
goodwill of the present government.  I can say that all 
minorities feel that the present AKP government is better 
than a CHP government."   Other parties are courting the 
minority vote as well.  He explained that in the run up to 
the municipal elections, the candidates from every party 
generally visit the Patriarchate to pull in the minority 
vote.  The CG observed that Nur Memecen is the AKP MP 
currently responsible for the islands on which Halki Seminary 
and other Patriarchate property is located.  Remarking on 
Memecan's understanding the importance of interfaith dialogue 
and appreciation for freedom of religion given her time in 
the United States, the CG recommended that the Patriarchate 
contact her about its concerns. 
 
Armenia and Visiting Cardinal Kaspar's Comments on Genocide 
--------------------------------------------- -------------- 
 
¶5. (C) Bartholomew expressed happiness about the developing 
dialogue between the governments of Turkey (GOT) and Armenia. 
 While in Armenia recently, he met privately with Armenian 
 
ISTANBUL 00000595  002 OF 002 
 
 
President Sargsyan to congratulate him on his successful 
meeting with the Turkish President Gul.  He encouraged him to 
continue the relationship, saying he hoped the two countries 
would exchange diplomats soon.  In the ongoing discussion 
related to the tragic events of 1915, the Turkish media 
recently aired comments by Cardinal Kaspar, president of the 
Pontifical Council, in which he emphasized that the Holy See 
regards Armenian allegations of genocide as reality.  Noting 
that Kaspar will be attending the Feast of St. Andrew at the 
Patriarchate on November 30, Bartholomew said Kaspar may 
"face some difficulties" during his visit but does not 
believe extra security will be necessary. (Note: The Turkish 
press has not reported on Kaspar's participation in the 
feast.) 
 
Pan-Orthodox Synod and "Expansionist" Requests by Russian 
Patriarch 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
 
¶5.  (SBU) The Patriarchate is participating in the 
preparations for a pan-orthodox synod, and Bartholomew said 
the planning committee will meet in Geneva in March 2009. The 
committee has yet to set a date for the synod, but 
Bartholomew commented on the planning process' positive 
progress toward unity in the orthodox world. 
 
¶6.  (C) Following a private meeting with the Russian 
Patriarch in Kiev, Bartholomew said the relationship with the 
Russian Orthodox Church has improved but described some 
recent challenges.  The Russian Patriarch requested 
permission to appoint a priest to the Russian Consulate 
General in Istanbul, a position that would provide diplomatic 
status for the priest.  Bartholomew responded to the 
patriarch saying that the Russians at the Consulate can 
instead attend mass at the Russian Church in Karakoy, a 
neighborhood in central Istanbul.  The Russian Patriarch also 
requested to post a priest to the Russian Embassy in Ankara - 
a request Bartholomew said he also denied, noting that "at 
the Embassy they would be more than priests and would use 
their diplomatic status and religion for other purposes in 
the spirit of expansionism and imperialism." He said he 
informed the Holy See of the Russian Patriarch's requests. 
 
No Need for Discussion on Ecumenical Status 
------------------------------------------- 
 
¶7. (C) The AKP has not engaged in a discussion about the 
ecumenical status of the patriarchate, according to 
Bartholomew, and he explained that he does not see a need for 
such a discussion. He related that Greek PM Karamanlis asked 
about the GOT's recognition of the Patriarch's ecumenicity 
and both PM Erdogan and Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said it 
was a matter concerning the Orthodox Church and not the GOT. 
 According to Bartholomew, he uses the ecumenical title 
within the Church because it comes from the 6th Century, and 
emphasized that there is no practical impact of the 
Government's perspective and no legal prohibition on his use 
of the title.  The important part, he contended, is that he 
is recognized as the Ecumenical Patriarch by his peers in 
orthodoxy following the tradition of his predecessors. 
 
¶8.  (C) Comment: The GOT's continued refusal to open Halki 
Seminary despite conciliatory actions by the GOG involving 
its Muslim minority-indicated by PM Erdogan in prior comments 
as a prerequisite for GOT action - shows that additional 
variables influence its decision to keep the seminary closed. 
 (Bartholomew invited the Consul General to visit Halki 
during the Patriarch's Kurban Bayram stay there.) However, 
Bartholomew points to areas of cooperation under the AKP, 
including their shared preference that the issue of the 
Patriarchate's ecumenicity be kept of out of the political 
realm. Addressing issues such as the ecumenical status would 
draw attention away from needed progress in areas where 
political discussion would be beneficial, namely the 
reopening of Halki Seminary.  End Comment. 
WIENER