FILIZ KILIC: TURKEY SHOULD HAVE HAD ARMENIAN LANGUAGE DEPARTMENT LONG AGO

PanARMENIAN.Net
27.11.2008 17:25 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The lack of any Kurdish or Armenian language
departments at universities does not mean it is not allowed, said
the head of higher education watchdog.

Turkish universities offer in-depth knowledge of long-extinct
civilizations of Sumerian, and Hittite culture, but none as yet has
a department devoted to Kurdish and Armenian languages, or Hebrew. A
recent proposal by the Democratic Society Party, or DTP, deputy
Osman Ozcelik to open a department on Kurdish language at Istanbul
and Dicle universities has highlighted this deficit.

"If universities make such a proposal, we can discuss the issue with
our friends and do what is necessary," President of Higher Education
Board, or YOK, Yusuf Ziya Ozcan said.

A department on Armenian language and literature is expected to be
launched next year at Nevsehir University.

"At least three professors who can teach the subject are required
before the department is operational. We are talking with professors
in Turkey who wrote about Armenian literature," Nevsehir University
Rector Filiz Kilic said yesterday.

"A department on Armenian literature is a critical subject, and it is
a long due project. Turkey should have had several similar departments
long ago," Kilic said.

"Classes will necessarily include particularities of the Armenian
language and literature, but the specific content will be written
once the professors start their job," she said. "It is not clear
whether the department will be ready for the 2009-2010 academic year,
but we want to start it after adequate preparations," Kilic said,
Hurriyet daily reports

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress