ARCHBISHOP MESROP MUTAFIAN TO MEET WITH HEAD OF GENERAL STAFF OF TURKISH ARMED FORCES TO DISCUSS SOME ISSUES RELATED TO MURDER OF HRANT DINK

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jun 04 2007

ISTANBUL, JUNE 4, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The Armenian Patriarch
of Constantinople Archbishop Mesrop Mutafian is going to meet with
the head of the general staff of the Turkish armed foces Yashar
Buyukand. Archbishop Mesrop Mutafian said this during an interview
to the magazin "Der Spigel".

According to "Hyurriyet", in his interview the Patriarch spoke about
the murder of Hrant Dink, threats made against Armenian schools in
Turkey, the 1915 tragic events in the Ottoman Empire and the current
political situation in Turkey.

As regards the murder of Hrant Dink, Archbishop Mesrop Mutafian noted
that after the assassination of the editor-in-chief many people took
to streets chanting the slogan "We all are Armenians, we all are
Hrant Dink". However, some time later the nationalists raised their
voice against them, as a result of which the ranks of those protesting
against this crime have gradually decreased: "There are some forces
behind the murder of Dink. I’m going to Ankara soon to meet with the
head of the general staff of Turkish armed forces Yashar Buyukand. It
is time to speak on this subject," the Patriarch said.

Speaking about letters with threats recenltly sent to Armenian schools,
the Patriarch noted that the number of those persecuting ethnic
minorities has increased in Turkey: "Particularly, for this reason
young Armenians leave Turkey and go to the US, France and Germany,"
he said.

Mesrop Mutafian stated that at the upcoming elections the Armenian
community of Turkey will give its vote for the ruling party "Justice
and Prosperity".

"We – Armenians prefer "Justice and Pros[erity" because it has adopted
a less nationalist attitude to minorities."