House Subcommittee Calls for Immediate Halki Opening

The bill approved by sub-committee on Nov. 19 still has to pass the House Committee on Foreign Affairs before it can be put to the House floor for a full vote. However, even if it would be passed by the House, it does not have binding enforcement power and only has significance as an advisory decision.

"The Justice and Development Party raised the hopes of Orthodox Christians all around the world when they announced they would re-open the seminary and a proposed democratization package seemed to be an appropriate channel for this change," said Bill Keating, a ranking member on the subcommittee, after approval of the resolution.

The escalated expectations for the inclusion of the seminary into a package of reforms, so-called democracy package, announced by the Turkish prime minister had come to naught, as no steps have been announced.

In addition to this, Mr. Erdogan said the re-opening decision was subject to Greece's response to Ankara's demands regarding the election of muftis in Western Thrace, highlighting the opening was simple for the government.

Noting his surprise with the exclusion of the opening, Keating also expressed his concern over the prime minister's recent remarks that requested conditions for the re-opening.

For some congressmen, the approval was a clear call for the Turkish government to reaffirm its commitment to the U.S. and the West.

Congressman Gus Bilirakis also emphasized the importance of Halki for Orthodox Christians, likening it to what the Vatican is for Catholics.