Armenian Verkin Arioba intends to struggle for parliamentarian mandate in Turkey

PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkish Armenian Verkin Arioba intends to struggle for mandate of the Turkish parliament. She has applied to ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and now awaits the vital decision of being placed on the party's electoral list. Turkish Daily News reports if accepted in the party list, Verkin Arioba will be the first parliamentary candidate of Armenian origin to the Turkish parliament since the 1980s. Verkin Arioba stated that she aims to continue working on conflict resolution between Turks and Armenians, and European Union-Turkey relations if elected.



In response to the critical question on the Armenian Genocide, she said: "This is an issue of history. Insisting on discussing the issue everyday causes disadvantages. Let us look forward, looking back is not our duty." Arioba's father was among Turkey's first businessmen, the Kasapyan family in Ankara. Arioba noted that she did not lose any relatives during the "expulsion of Armenians between 1915-1919". "I lost some of my relatives during the independence war, but none during the expulsion," Arıoba added.



"As an Armenian, I might be more influential for defending the rights of Turkey in the EU, if I am elected as a deputy. My advantage in the elections is being an Armenian" Arioba said.



She is founder and executive director of the Historical Heritage Protection Foundation and played an active role in the opening of the Holy Cross Church on Akhtamar Island.



Arioba is known to be critical of Orhan Pamuk, Turkey's first writer to win the Nobel Prize and Hrant Dink, "Agos" Armenian-Turkish bilingual editor-in-chief who was assassinated in Istanbul January 19, 2007.