Non-Muslim intellectuals in Turkey want protection under new ConstitutionApril 9, 2011 - 12:48 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Non-Muslim intellectuals in Turkey support government plans to replace the current Constitution with a new and civilian one, saying they would like to be protected under a new constitution, rather than relying on the Treaty of Lausanne, Today’s Zaman reports. According to non-Muslim intellectuals, social peace in Turkey should be ensured by a good constitution, rather than an outdated treaty. Rober Koptaş, editor-in-chief of Armenian weekly Agos, said non-Muslim minorities do not want their rights to be guaranteed by foreign countries, which he says has negative impacts and repercussions in Turkey. Non-Muslim minorities in Turkey do not want to be seen as “outer constituents whose rights are protected by the Treaty of Lausanne,” said Turkish-Armenian writer and journalist Markar Esayan, adding: “We want no more and no less than this. We want to become simple citizens of Turkey. We want to become citizens of a state we have failed to be close to until now.” Esayan also stated that Turkey has taken bold steps toward destroying a mindset that sees non-Muslims as “internal enemies” or “agents.” “Armenians who want to see themselves as real citizens of Turkey should also work for a new constitution,” he noted. Erol Dora, a lawyer representing the Syriac Christian community of Turkey, said that Turkey’s political will should settle the problems of non-Muslim minorities in order to restore social peace and allow a democratic mindset to dominate the country, but not simply because Europe requires such conditions for full membership in the European Union. The lawyer also said that people were created by God with different traits and disrespecting those traits means opposing the greatness of God. According to Mihail Vasiliadis, editor-in-chief of Apoyevmatini, a weekly Greek newspaper serving the Greek community in Turkey, while a constitution cannot be expected to solve all of society’s problems, the 1982 Constitution of Turkey blocks the settlement of many problems.   Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads.   Partner news |  Latest news Erdogan wants “realistic road map” for relations with Armenia  Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called for a “new realistic road map” for relations with Armenia.Armenia-Azerbaijan: Experts launch work on determining coordinates Expert groups from the countries started the process of determining the coordinates based on geodetic measurements.Yerevan says did not expect CSTO in peacekeeping role Pashinyan has declared that the CSTO would be expected to come to the Armenia-Azerbaijan border as an ally of ArmeniaHenrikh Mkhitaryan wins Serie A title with Inter Inter Milan midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan admits that the team have long been imagining clinching Serie A against AC Milan. |
