The reopening of the Chalki Theology School is not part of Greek_Turkish bilateral relations, but it is related to Turkey’s accessional course towards the EU, stressed Minister of Education Petros Efthymiou, who had had a meeting with his Turkish counterpart Hussein Tselik, in the framework of the 21st Meeting of the Standing Convention of European Ministers of Educations of the Council of Europe, which was held in Athens.

Mr. Efthymiou stressed the above when asked to comment on Mr. Tsalik’s comments connecting the reopening of the School to minorities in Thrace.

Furthermore, he stressed that during the meeting Mr. Tselik raised the issue of the School’s functioning, stating that �it has been closed for 32 years, and it is not the Turkish government’s intention to keep it closed�.

The Minister of Education pointed out to Mr. Tselik that his statements are especially positive, but, as he said to the journalists, he stressed that the reopening of the Chalki School is connected to Turkey’s accessional prospects and the respect of educational liberties.