ERDOGAN PROMISES TO WORK TOWARD SETTLEMENT OF TURKEY’S ARMENIAN COMMUNITY’S PROBLEMS

Tert
Nov 9 2009
Armenia

Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Ergdogan met with His Eminence
Archbishop Aram Ateshian, the Grand Sacristan of the Holy Mother of
God Armenian Cathedral, the Vicar General of the Armenian Patriarchate
of Constantinople, and the chair of the Religious Council of the
Patriarchate, and his delegation at Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul
on Friday.

During the discussion, Armenian delegation representatives said that a
number of issues connected with properties belonging to the community
have already been resolved and property belonging to the community
was returned to Armenians as prescribed by law.

According to His Eminence Archbishop Aram Ateshian, the documents
necessary for the return of other properties are being prepared. He
reminded Erdogan that there are 43 Armenian churches, 17 Armenian
schools, a hospital and other such Armenian community institutions,
whose only income are the sums incurred through building rentals
owned by the community.

Erdogan, for his part, stated that "Turkey’s Armenian community is not
unknown to him and knows that the community has problems." He noted
there are problems in other communities too, and as a government
representative, it is his responsibility to know about them and
work toward the settlement of those issues. He assured the Armenian
delegation that over time all problems will receive their solutions,
for which corresponding ministers must work toward.

At the end of the meeting, Turkey’s Prime Minister expressed a wish
to visit the Armenian Patriarchate and also asked about the health
condition of His Beatitude Patriarch Mesrop Mutafyan.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress