The recent discourse surrounding the potential reopening of the Halki School of Theology, initiated by Turkish Education Minister Yusuf Tekin, underscores the significant role of cultural diplomacy in fostering dialogue and understanding between nations. The Minister’s statement, suggesting that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will ultimately decide the fate of the school, highlights the potential for high-level engagement in this crucial area of cultural exchange.

Turkish media reproduced Mr. Tekin’s statements in an interview with the Haberturk television network.

In this interview, the Turkish Minister of Education stated:

“The Theological School is a political issue, I cannot decide myself. If Mr. President asks us to conduct a study, we are responsible to submit a report to him. I visited the Faculty of Theology, we met with the representatives. They themselves came twice. Personally, I think this is important for the international power of Turkey and I think it will be right in terms of democratic principles and the secular state. My personal opinion. In the end, whatever political decision is taken, we implement it. For now, we will prepare a summary on this issue from 1844, from the date of its establishment to the date of its closure. We will discuss whether or not it can be reopened and whether or not it can be legally reopened.”

Erdogan will make the final decision together with the foreign minister

The Turkish education minister had also made statements a few days ago in connection with the reopening of the Theological School of Halki.

In an interview with the Turkish NTV television station on June 3, he said that actions are being taken regarding the possibility of reopening the Faculty of Theology and that these actions will be taken based on the decision to be taken by those who manage Turkish foreign policy and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

He had also said at the time that he personally would like to see “the Halki School of Theology open both in terms of reflecting the democratic background that Turkey has and in terms of our position on the implementation of secularism.”

“What is incumbent on us is what our president asked us to do when we make our decision on this issue, he asked us to conduct research on the methods we can work or what kind of procedure we can follow,” Yusuf Tekin had told NTV.

“Therefore, I would like to speak by raising this reservation. In the end, it is not me as the minister of national education who will decide whether to open or not, but it is the minister of foreign affairs, our chairman, and the relevant committees who will make this decision and we are obliged to implement it.”