Is the Halki Seminary reopening? Notable statement from Bartholomew: 'Erdoğan gave the instruction'

Ongoing restoration work at the Halki Seminary is strengthening expectations that the school will reopen. According to a report by Yorgo Kırbaki from Hürriyet, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, who visited Thessaloniki, stated in comments to the Greek press that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had given instructions to the Ministry of National Education (MEB), adding, "I am very optimistic that our school will resume operations in a short time."

The Patriarch noted that the Ministry of National Education is involved in the process and that Minister Yusuf Tekin has visited the school to inspect the work. Stating that a delegation from the Patriarchate will travel to Ankara next week to discuss the details, Bartholomew said they are very hopeful about this process.

WHAT DID MINISTER YUSUF TEKİN SAY?

During his visit to Heybeliada on May 28, Minister of National Education Yusuf Tekin stated that work to reopen the seminary was ongoing and that they were making a serious effort in this regard. Minister Tekin had used the expression, "We are carrying out our work so that the school can resume operations as a seminary."

Last Saturday, Tekin also told CNN Türk, "The opening of the Halki Seminary is a political decision. This decision is made by our President and our Ministry of Foreign Affairs. If I am given an instruction to 'open it,' we have already visited the school to prepare our roadmap, completed our technical preparations, and reported them. We will have one final meeting soon."

News Source: 12punto