ANKARA - National Education Minister Huseyin Celik said on Friday that they were positive toward re-opening of Heybeliada Seminary. He said, ''I think this problem should be solved.''
U.S. Ambassador in Ankara Eric Edelman visited National Education Minister Huseyin Celik.
Speaking prior to the meeting, Celik said cooperation between the two countries in education would be discussed.
Celik said, ''we will not discuss Iraq issue, but issues pertaining to education.''
Edelman in his part said he was also an educationalist, stressing that to this end he was interested in education. Edelman said cooperation between the two countries could be further improved.
Replying to a question about re-opening of Heybeliada Seminary, Celik said he had conveyed his views on this issue many times.
Celik said people in a secular country has the right to learn his own religion freely, stressing that high education regarding theology of those religions was taken under constitutional guarantee.
Celik went on saying, ''seminary which is the demand of the Partriarchate is in fact an issue which is on agenda for years, but can't be solved. The main approach here stems from this reciprocity matter. Especially, as you know we have a Turkish minority in Western Thrace as a requirement of Lausanne Treaty and there is a Greek minority in Turkey. They are our friends and our first-class citizens. This should be a reciprocal move.''
''I am warm towards this matter and I think that this issue should be solved. I think that reciprocal steps should be taken both in Cyprus issue and Western Thrace issue. But, I would like to once more state that in my opinion, opening of a seminary is a delayed event,'' Celik said.
Celik added, ''necessary initiatives will be held as soon as possible. This issue is one concerning the Foreign Ministry. A decision will be taken altogether. I formed a commission as of yesterday and after the visit of the Patriarch. They are searching the infrastructure and legal situations. What is necessary will be done.''
When a reporter recalled that he mentioned reciprocity and asked what Turkey wanted, Celik said, ''we have a Turkish minority in Western Thrace. Same steps should be taken for their education. I believe that issue will be solved through talks. I don't think there is a problem which can't be solved.''
(AY-BRC-AÖ) 31.10.2003