Turkey's EU minister wishes reopening of Greek theological school

Turkish Minister for European Union Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis said Monday that he wishes Turkey's democratization package, a set of reforms, which is expected to be announced by the end of September will include reopening of Halki Seminary, Greek Orthodox theological school on Istanbul's Heybeliada, a demand long pursued by Turkey's Greek community. "It is not a matter of reciprocity but the positive steps to be taken by the Greek government for the Muslims living in Greece would be encouraging for us," he said. Established in 1844 on the island of Heybeliada in Istanbul, Halki Seminary was closed in 1971 under a law that placed religious and military training under state control.