The Turkish government is moving on the issue of reopening the Theological School of Halki, which has remained closed since 1971, reports the Turkish newspaper Karar.
With the headline “Surprise at the Theological School,” the newspaper states that Turkish Education Minister Yusuf Tekin, who heads the preparations, visited the school and met with relevant officials. Additionally, he gathered the opinions of former ministers who had worked on the issue in the past. “Personally, I would like it to reopen,” Tekin said.
The reopening of the school, as reported by the newspaper, is being considered as part of the “second wave of reforms” being prepared by the Turkish government after the local elections on March 31. However, their content has not been clarified.
During his visit to the Halki Theological School on May 29, the Turkish Minister, accompanied by a delegation, met with officials of the Patriarchate and the Greek community. “Referring to the historical significance of the building, Tekin proposed that restoration work be carried out faithfully to its original architecture. He also visited the school’s library, which houses 80,000 volumes,” it is added.
“Closed for more than 50 years, the request for the reopening of the School has been raised from time to time, and a new initiative has begun. In this context, the government is preparing a comprehensive study for the School’s opening. Under the coordination of the Minister of National Education, Yusuf Tekin, the legal and political steps taken so far are being examined. Tekin is also holding some meetings on this issue,” it is noted.
According to Karar, the issue was raised again during the meeting between the Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara three weeks ago.
In the Karar report, among other things, it is noted: “On May 13, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who met with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara, also had the Halki Theological School on his agenda. It is reported that Mitsotakis asked Erdogan to take measures for the reopening of the Halki Theological School. Erdogan, on the other hand, told ‘Kathimerini’ that the Turkish government is working on the opening of the School and expects a constructive approach from Greece for the problems faced by the ‘Turkish minority in Greece in the field of education'(sic).”
