TURKISH OPPOSITION SEEKS SUPPORT OF NATIONAL MINORITIES
PanARMENIAN.Net
May 11, 2011 – 12:12 AMT
The Republican People’s Party, or CHP, Deputy President and Foreign
Politics Representative Osman Koruturk and General Secretary Bihlun
Tamaylıgil paid a visit to Fener Greek Patriarchy and the Armenian
Patriarchy of Turkey.
While the officials’ visit to Fener Greek Patriarchy took half an hour,
their visit to the Armenians Patriarchy of Turkey took approximately
an hour and half.
When asked to comment by Turkish media on “the incidents of 1915”,
Koruturk said: “Both of the sides experienced agonies, it would
be unjust to say they are one-sided. As two rival parties the CHP,
and Justice and Development Party, or AKP, we brought on the agenda
the proposal of establishing a history commission. Nevertheless,
the proposal was not approved in Armenia.”
Answering the question why Arev Cebeci putting candidacy from CHP on
behalf of the Armenian community could not be elected, Koruturk said
they do not separate people according to their identities. “More
than 4,300 people applied and 550 of them won. We do not have an
Armenian deputy in Parliament on behalf of our party. However, we
have Armenian-origin citizens taking positions in the administration
of CHP and local levels.”
Explaining why the visit to the Armenian Patriarchy of Turkey took
a longer span of time, Koruturk said: “They had a long agenda
to discuss. We have comprehensive projects, family insurance,
agriculture projects and economic projects. These projects would
change the country throughout.”
One of the presidents of Istanbul Armenian Foundation Bedros
Marzubanyan showing at the meeting said the recent statements of
CHP leader Kemal Kılıcdaroglu upset the Armenian community. “Some
people said Kılıcdaroglu’s mother is an Armenian from Dersim and
he tried to prove his mother is not an Armenian. I would like to ask
him whether being an Armenian is really such a bad thing after all.”
Bedros Å~^irinoglu, the president of the Yedikule Surp Pırgic Hospital
Foundation, which ranks in second place in the protocol following the
patriarchate, did not attend the meeting, Hurriyet Daily News reported.