BBC WRITES ABOUT "MASKED" ARMENIANS OF TURKEY

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jun 26 2006

ISTANBUL, JUNE 26, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The unpleasant
event taken place on the day of the visit paid by the Catholicos
of All Armenian to Istanbul, when Turk nationalists were holding a
demonstration of complaint at the airport, became a reason for BBC
correspondent Sara Rainford touches upon this theme as well as the
present state of Armenians in Turkey and the issue of blockade of
Armenia by Turkey. She spoke to Armenians from Contstantinople who
were conditionally named "Vardan" and "Anush."

"Turks ask me till now from where I am. They have no notion that
hundred of thousands of us lived here once," "Vardan" said. The
journalist mentions that 60 thousand Armenians live in Turkey, in a
territory where their forefathers lived more than 2 thousand years
ago. It is a very difficult community," the BBC correspondent noticed.

"We have seen only violence since we were born. Insults are written
on walls of churches, we are humiliated in streets. I think twice
till now wheather to say my name or not," "Anush" said.

"Life of previous generations was more difficult. It is not surprising
that they do not make public their opinion about the 1915. Armenia
wants that Turkey recognizes the universal slaughter, qualifying it
as a genocide," the journalist continues.

She mentions that "Anush" and "Vardan" are those scanty exclusions who,
living in Turkey, say what happened in 1915. They forefathers were
by force removed to south. They gave their children to Turk neighbors
for safety and never returned. "Anush" says that it is terrible. Such
a tradegy took place in the family of any Armenian there.

"The international community puts pressure on Ankara now, imposing
to review its position concerning this issue. "Vardan" greets it but
he also feels that in response to it, Turk nationalists’ aggression
increases gradually," the BBC correspondent writes.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress