The State Department sends Ankara a double message about the reopening of the Theological School of Halki, through the publication of the annual report on religious freedoms around the world for the year 2018.
During the customary press conference to present the report, both US Secretary of State Mike Pombeo and US Ambassador for Religious Freedom, Sam Brownback, spoke on the issue of Halki.
“We are urging the immediate reopening of the Halki Seminary near Constantinople”, said the US Foreign Minister, while on his part Mr. Brownback said that “In Turkey, the government of President Erdogan continues to keep the Halki Theological School closed. We urge them to allow it to be reopened”.
In addition, Mike Pombeo also referred to the imprisonment of American citizens in Turkey, saying that with the strong encouragement of President Trump, Washington managed to release pastor Andrew Branson, who was wrongly convicted for his faith.
“We continue to pursue the release of our staff working there”, he characteristically said.
Regarding the general level of religious freedoms, the head of US diplomacy noted that the US is welcoming the “flashes of progress” that have occurred.
However, he stressed that it is necessary to take even more steps, as 2018 was not an ideal year.
It should be reminded that the promotion of religious liberties is a key priority regarding the foreign policy by the Government of President Trump. In fact, the second State Department ministerial meeting on Religious Freedoms is expected to be hosted in Washington in mid-July.
According to the US Department of State’s announcement, “The ministerial conference will reaffirm international commitments to promote religious freedom for all and focus on concrete results that produce steady and positive changes”.